After five days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is clear that no one is safe
European champions Spain were unable to defeat Cape Verde. One of the favorites, Brazil, drew with Morocco. Egypt grabbed a point from Belgium. The chaos is real and it’s just the beginning.
A Format Designed for Upsets
The World Cup is being played for the first time with 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. The eight top third place finishers will advance to the knockout stage, as will 32 other countries. This allows a team to lose a game and still move forward.
That rule is a game-changer. Favorites can’t take any game lightly. FIFA expanded the number of teams to ten in Africa, eight in Asia and the first direct qualification for Oceania. Now it is the turn of the top teams to take on the countries that have worked hard and are determined.
Vozinha and Cabo Verde making history 🇨🇻#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/TIEc3lh2GO
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 15, 2026
The Proof Is in the Results
In a dramatic upset in Atlanta, one of the four new teams in the tournament, Cape Verde, held reigning European champions Spain to a goalless draw. The Blue Sharks, one of the smallest countries in the world by population to ever enter a World Cup, were almost late winners.
Then there’s Morocco, the only African team to advance to a World Cup semifinal in history, who have proved to be no fluke with their solid organization and tactical discipline, holding Brazil to a draw despite being one of the tournament favourites.
The Critics Aren’t Totally Wrong
There are concerns that the format reduces the quality of the overall experience, and others say it is a sign of player fatigue in a crowded football schedule.
However, there’s a strong counterargument. Either you view it as expanding the game or a watering down of the tournament’s high-caliber excitement, but either way, the 2026 format is creating moments, upsets and storylines that simply wouldn’t have occurred in the 32-team era.
The Bottom Line
The old World Cup had 32 teams and still we got Saudi Arabia beating Argentina. This one has 48 and we’re not even in the second round of group games yet. Buckle up.
