Joachim Löw criticizes expansion of World Cup to 48 teams
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 12, 2026, 3:11 AM
Last updated Jun 12, 2026
Joachim Löw, the former coach of Germany, expressed his disapproval of the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams during an interview with RTL. Löw stated that the previous 32-team format was effective and more competitive. He emphasized that the increase in participants dilutes the quality of matches, especially since eight third-place teams advance to the knockout stage, making the group stage less significant. Löw, who led Germany to victory in 2014, feels that it is essential to maintain a high level of competition.
- •Joachim Löw calls the 48-team World Cup a mistake.
- •Löw prefers the former 32-team format for its competitiveness.
- •He voiced his concerns during an RTL interview.
- •The World Cup expansion is part of the tournament starting on June 12, 2026.
- 3:11 AMYahoo Sports — Ex-Germany coach Löw 'not a fan' of World Cup with 48 teams
"Former Germany coach Joachim Löw believes that expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams was a mistake. "I'm not a fan of this World Cup.
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