One of the biggest changes in world football - the issue of increasing the number of World Cup participants to 48 teams - continues to be debated. Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger also commented on the topic and explained the underlying meaning behind the expansion idea.
Wenger emphasized that playing for the national team is not a simple game, it's a special feeling. On the one hand, the player expresses the honor and pride of his country, and on the other hand, he is under enormous pressure: fear of defeat, the risk of offending the fans, the possibility of not playing at the expected level are felt at every step.
In his opinion, it takes tremendous mental strength to take responsibility to the entire nation. Therefore, strong national teams need players who are not only technically and physically ready, but also pressure-resistant and capable of expressing the spirit of the new generation.
Wenger recalled that the World Cup was a tournament that for many years was mainly held in the center of Europe and South America. Now football has truly become a global sport: wherever you go, people talk about football, argue, dream. From this perspective, opening the tournament to more countries, especially expanding opportunities for teams from Africa and Asia, is a natural step.
Looking into the future, Hungarian said that even in a hundred years, every person should have the opportunity to dream at least of winning the World Cup. According to him, the transition from 32 teams to 48 is an important and logical step on this path.
The expert highlighted the first two weeks of the tournament as the most enjoyable and impactful part of the World Cup. Because at this very moment, the whole world gathers at one point: everyone takes pride in the name of their country, and at the same time, a common unity, a common festive spirit arises. The Hungarian called this a "team celebration."
However, as the number of participants increases, the total volume of the tournament also increases. As Wenger noted, the world championship, consisting of 104 matches and going on for quite a long time, will be a great psychological test. Achieving victory here requires not only tactics or skill, but also serious psychological preparation.
He believes that the coaching staff must maintain the team's unity, internal environment, and motivation for several weeks. Especially in the playoff stages, penalties become almost inevitable, and then the psychological factor becomes decisive.
Arsen Wenger expressed these views at the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasizing that the decision to expand the World Cup should be viewed not only from the perspective of numbers but also from the perspective of the global future of football.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
