A hymn to the football dwarfs: Cape Verde shows that a World Cup with 48 teams works

Messi had put his colors in the lead in the first half and actually set the course for victory – or as he himself later said: “We did the hardest thing: score the first goal – and thought that we would find our game and become calmer.”

But the Argentines weren’t, because Cape Verde held up bravely, or as Messi put it: “They hit with their resources.” Just like before in the three preliminary round games against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

This XXL World Championship was often criticized in advance because a total of 48 teams would dilute the sporting level. Such sayings came especially from the major football powers. What sounded arrogant and presumptuous beforehand turned out to be wrong in retrospect.

Because the supposedly little ones have enriched this tournament. Cape Verde is emblematic of this. With the cult goalkeeper Vozinha, who now has 21 million followers on Instagram, six million more than Manuel Neuer. And with passion and real dedication. And a team that not only barricades itself in front of its own penalty area, but can also play forward.

Other nations like Curaçao were initially laughed at; the 7-1 defeat against Germany seemed to confirm many experts’ views. Results like those common at world championships 50 years ago would now be the order of the day again thanks to Infantino’s desire for expansion. But nothing like that happened, Curaçao kept a clean sheet in the next game and scored a point.

Of course there is a calculation behind the increase from 32 to 48 teams. FIFA expects more profits and the development of new markets. However, it should not be forgotten that countries like Cape Verde, Curaçao and the other World Cup debutants Uzbekistan and Jordan also benefit from this and inspire people at home.

And if the World Cup were to take place in four years with even 64 teams, based on the impressions of the current finals in North America, that would not only be an artificial inflation, but also an opportunity. For the nations who may be able to be there for the first time as part of the great spectacle of the World Cup – and not just as spectators from an unreachable distance.