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Ghana manager blasts 48-team format with ‘vulgar’ mic drop
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Croatia secured an automatic spot in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ghana in their Group L finale. Young midfielder Petar Sucic made a significant impact by scoring his first career World Cup goal with an impressive strike in the 31st minute. Although Ghana equalized in the second half with a goal from Derrick Luckassen, Nikola Vlasic netted the game-winner just ten minutes later, securing second place for Croatia with a total of six points.
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The Croatians are now preparing for a crucial knockout match against Portugal on July 2, while Ghana advances as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.
Despite his team moving on, Ghana's manager, Carlos Queiroz, took to his post-match press conference to deliver a stinging critique of FIFA's new 48-team tournament structure. He bluntly warned that this significant expansion risks turning the world's premier stage into a "vulgar, ordinary competition."
Queiroz argued that true significance comes from exclusivity, claiming that qualification matches across Europe and Africa have lost their meaning due to more accessible entry. He criticized the financial motives that have overtaken sporting integrity, stating, "Today, money talks… This is called not football but moneyball." He also expressed deep concerns for player welfare due to the demanding additional games.
Ironically, Queiroz's criticisms arise despite the fact that Ghana would have been eliminated under previous rules for finishing third. Instead, the Black Stars will face Colombia on July 4 in a revamped format where seven nations are making history by advancing past the group stage for the first time.
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Teams like South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, DR Congo, and co-hosts Canada are all set to make their knockout stage debuts. This expansion has fundamentally altered the tournament, leading to remarkable underdog success stories, such as Cape Verde, a nation with a population smaller than that of any U.S. state, finishing ahead of powerhouse Uruguay to set up a clash with defending champions Argentina.
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