Despite an early shock, the US Women's National Team recovered to win the inaugural women's Gold Cup. But was the tournament a success for a region that has been slower than most to grow the women's game?
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to be contested by 48 teams, rather than the 32-team tournaments we have been used to watching since 1998.Initially, it was planned that there would be 16 three-team groups. However, FIFA ditched this idea and instead opted for 12 four-team groups after seeing and enjoying the drama of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.While criticism around the decision to expand the World Cup has focused on FIFA’s thirst for increased revenue, the new format allows 16 more teams than usual to qualify.And more teams means more matches: the 2026 tournament will have 40 more games than the 32-team versions increasing from 64 to 104.
Expanding the World Cup has proven predictably popular with FIFA’s commercial partners but players and fans alike have raised concerns.In the below piece Ajay Rose explores whether or not the idea makes sense.
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