Queiroz Critiques World Cup Expansion After Ghana's Win

Carlo Queiroz, the coach of the Ghana National Football Team, criticized the decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, expressing fears that it could turn the competition into something "vulgar" and "ordinary." His comments came after Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Croatia, which nonetheless allowed the Black Stars to qualify for the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-place teams. Queiroz emphasized the significance of the World Cup and the rarity of teams qualifying, stating that the expansion could diminish the value of the competition.

He pointed out that financial motivations are influencing decisions in football, which he believes could lead to a loss of meaning in qualification matches. Ghana is set to face Colombia in the round of 32 on July 4, with potential matchups against Switzerland or Algeria in the round of 16.

The new format allows for more teams, including smaller nations like Cape Verde, to participate in the knockout stage.