Kroos opposes a 48-team World Cup.

In his opposition to a 48-team World Cup, Toni Kroos didn't speak emotionally. He posed a fundamental question: can top-level football maintain its quality when quantity is prioritized over value?

Kroos opposes a 48-team World Cup.

When Toni Kroos spoke about the 2026 World Cup, it wasn't a shocking statement. It was the familiar frankness of a player who has conquered every peak and understands very well what football at the highest level is like.

Kroos opposes the 48-team format not out of nostalgia, but because he fears the quality of the world's biggest tournament is being compromised. According to the former German star, expanding the number of participating teams will inevitably lead to negative consequences. The gap in skill levels between national teams will be exposed more clearly than ever before.

Matches ending with 5-0 or 6-0 scores in the group stage will become more common. And that's not the kind of football fans actually want to see.

Kroos's argument is simple, yet very convincing. Top-level football is fascinating because of its balance, because of the feeling that every moment can change the course of the game.

Kroos opposes the 48-team format not out of nostalgia, but because he fears the quality of the world's biggest league is being compromised.

When a match loses its competitiveness even before kick-off, the excitement diminishes accordingly. Viewers don't turn on the TV to witness a one-sided display of dominance. They expect a battle of wits, where every mistake has consequences.

In Kroos's memory, the World Cup is a stage for big matches, where quality is the ultimate standard. Increasing the number of teams to 48 gives more countries a chance, and that's not wrong. But the question is: is that opportunity worth it if it dilutes the tournament? When the group stage becomes predictable, the weight of the World Cup is also difficult to maintain.

Supporters of the new format often cite its global reach, the development of football in regions outside of Europe and South America. But Kroos sees the issue from a different perspective.

He cares about the final product on the pitch. A tournament is only truly great when it delivers great matches, where both players and spectators are swept up in the pressure and the quality of play.

The 2026 World Cup hasn't happened yet, and any discussion at this point is purely speculative. But Kroos's voice is worth listening to, because it comes from someone who has experienced the pinnacle of international football. It's not conservatism, but a reminder that if the World Cup loses its essence, then expansion will only be a matter of quantity, not value.

Source: https://znews.vn/kroos-phan-doi-world-cup-48-doi-post1615258.html