A World Cup full of drama and excitement — so of course FIFA will now spoil it with 48 teams

ONE of the most exciting nights I have experienced at this World Cup took place without me having to leave the hotel. Sitting in my room watching Group E reach a remarkably tense denouement on the television was to know what the best of World Cup football is all about.

At half- time, with Germany leading Costa Rica and Spain ahead against Japan, both the big European nations were heading through from what we had called the Group of Death.

With 20 minutes of both games to go, with both teams now behind, they were both going home. Ultimately, Germany scored three goals that won them the game and therefore sent Spain through but not themselves. In order for Germany to progress as well, Spain had to rally and ultimately they didn’t.

Flicking between two channels to try to keep across both games, I inevitably had the feeling that I was always watching the wrong one. Heaven knows what it must have been like to support one of the teams involved or even be in one of the stadiums.

This is one of the reasons we watch the World Cup and other big tournaments. It is to watch England and watch big-name players, for sure. But it’s also to be part of dramatic nights like that one, when football seems to be the only thing in life that matters as the fate of four nations swings back and forwards irresistibly.

In America in four years’ time, however, there will be none of this. FIFA in their wisdom have decreed 48 teams will take part in World Cup 2026, rather than the current 32.

We are not totally sure yet what the format will be. It was thought there would be 16 groups of three with two teams going through from each. Now we think there may be 12 groups of four with the top two going through and the eight best third-placed teams.

What we do know is that this will lessen the possibility of nights like last Thursday. In 2026’s potential format, Germany would either have progressed as a third-placed finisher or at the very least would have been left waiting to discover their fate once all the groups had been completed.

How strange. To take away all that intrigue and drama and fabulous excitement just because squeezing 16 extra teams into a tournament will mean more matches, more sponsorship, more TV money.

It is as if FIFA value money over sport. As the guardians of the world game, that can’t be true, can it?

ARSENE WENGER turned ‘full FIFA’ long ago. It was his idea to stage the World Cup every two years, and replace throwins with free-kicks. Yesterday, he said: ‘The teams ready to focus on competition and not political demonstration played well.’ For an intelligent man like Wenger to mock Germany — who embarrassed FIFA with a moving, brave and memorable protest — from his position in Gianni Infantino’s pocket was facile. And to think there was a time we hung on his every word.

ENGLISH referee Anthony Taylor has been criticised for blowing for full time before South Korea could take a corner against Ghana. Apparently, referees are encouraged not to end the game in an attacking phase of play. What nonsense. When time is up, it’s up.

GABRIEL JESUS is out of the World Cup with a knee injury and that is bad news for Brazil. It’s even worse news for Arsenal. Strange as it sounds, the Premier League restarts in just 21 days.