First 48-Team World Cup Yields Mixed Results, Sparking Debate on Expansion Impact

Summary

The first 48-team World Cup, won by Spain after 104 games, presented both positives and negatives, confirming that both proponents like Diego Maradona and critics like Joachim Löw had valid points regarding the expansion. FIFA's decision to expand the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, made under Gianni Infantino, aimed to allow more countries to participate but raised concerns about diluting sporting value.