Portugal vs DR Congo live updates: World Cup 2026 latest as Ronaldo prepares for first game
Yes, for a soccer tournament, 64 is a huge number. Yes, it is fully four times the size of the 16 teams granted access to eight of the 22 men’s World Cups.
The reality is that 64 actually covers up some of the flaws within the 48-team system, and doesn’t bring in too many fresh points of complaint.
The big sticking point is that this much expansion would dilute the field too much and take drama and suspense out of qualification.
Yet more spots also bring hope and opportunity to a fresh batch of nations, some suddenly presented with a genuine chance of qualifying instead of needing a miracle.
A 64-team World Cup would truly be a behemoth in terms of size and scope. But for all that, it may not be as much of a mistake as current perception suggests.