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Jeff Carlisle
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, has endorsed the decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, asserting that it is “the right amount” for a World Cup event.
The upcoming 2026 tournament, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first to feature 48 teams, a shift from the previous seven tournaments, which included 32 teams.
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for the tournament to become unwieldy and the possibility that the quality of play may diminish. Nonetheless, Wenger, a former manager of Arsenal, expressed his support for the expansion.
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While speaking at a panel with FIFA’s chief football officer and former head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, Jill Ellis, prior to Friday’s World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, Wenger stated, “I believe that 48 teams is the appropriate figure. It represents less than 25% of the 211 countries affiliated with FIFA. This means one team out of four gets the chance to participate, leaving 75% of the teams absent.”
Addressing concerns about diminished quality, Wenger highlighted the most recent FIFA U17 World Cup, which also featured 48 teams.
“I feel optimistic, because to qualify, you must defeat competitors from your confederation, which signifies quality; it ultimately comes down to results,” Wenger remarked.
“The teams did not earn their place by mere chance; they are here because they have triumphed over other teams in their confederation, showcasing their quality. When examining the playoffs, you can see the quality of players and teams present, which makes me optimistic.
“We faced similar concerns before the U17 World Cup, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of play.”
As the tournament approaches, there are also concerns regarding the condition of the playing fields, as well as how teams will manage the likely high temperatures, which could exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Wenger mentioned that FIFA gleaned valuable insights from the Club World Cup held in the U.S. last summer.
This year, unlike in previous tournaments, the venues and kickoff times for the 2026 tournament will not be announced simultaneously with the group draw; instead, FIFA plans to hold a separate event on Saturday to reveal the complete match schedule.
“We are quite confident that the quality of the playing surfaces will be excellent because there won’t be any games played on the pitches for two months leading up to the competition,” Wenger noted.
“We have learned a great deal about better protecting the teams after the draw. On Saturday, we’ll unveil the locations where the matches will be played, along with the game timings. We have also considered optimal solutions to shield teams from extreme heat and will introduce hydration breaks during matches, as well as making provisions before games.”
Regarding which teams may excel, Wenger mentioned that England is likely to be among the frontrunners, while identifying France as a “super favorite” due to their depth and talent.
“England consistently finds themselves close to winning, whether in the semifinals, quarterfinals, or finals. They possess the quality to achieve it,” he said.
“Overall, I remain optimistic about Europe’s chances. Objectively speaking, France stands out as a super favorite, particularly because the country boasts a greater number of quality strikers than any other team globally.”