I know its not ended yet this World Cup but you realized, this its the last World Cup with this format?
In the next one USA/Canada and Mexico 2026 we have 48 participants, this its the last one with 32, we have this format since France 98. So its not the first time the World Cup change his format, but i think this last change its more about money/broadcasting than football. with 48 participants we can have so much low tier national teams.
Only good thing? More matches to see to bet, and surely more people in the cities who host the tournament.
I don't like the new format, World Cup already has enough small teams in it. I mean it is world cup and nobody wants to see Brazil winning 8:0 against some island country where they have to take vacation to play in it. This should be elite competition, reserved only for the best of the best.
And group stage with 16 groups per 3 teams is just ridiculous but it still not set in stone. They are even considering 12 groups with 4 teams and another one is to divide tournament in half and then winners of each half play in final.