Former English footballer and commentator Paul Masefield believes that the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup will not overly burden players. He mentioned that FIFA and continental confederations are already working on scheduling solutions to handle the increased number of qualification matches. With the 48-team World Cup offering more qualifying opportunities, concerns have arisen about player workload and balancing club and international commitments.
Paul, part of the expert panel for ZEE5’s FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage, highlighted that qualification structures are being adjusted to manage the larger competition without significantly adding to players’ workload. He mentioned that scheduling is being revamped to allow more games in a shorter time frame to accommodate the changes.
Masefield expressed confidence that most regions, including Asia, Africa, and the Americas, are prepared to handle the expanded qualification process without major issues. He noted that Europe is the only confederation where fixture congestion might be a concern, but discussions are ongoing to ease the burden on players. Europe is considering a pre-qualifying competition for smaller nations to reduce the load on players vying for World Cup qualification.
According to Masefield, these adjustments are part of FIFA’s strategy to enhance the inclusivity of the World Cup while maintaining a sustainable qualification process. He emphasized that these changes are aimed at involving everyone in the future of the tournament.
