In the history of nearly a century of existence, World Cups have seen a maximum of 32 teams participate in the finals. Through each period, there are teams that qualify for the first time, but basically, the World Cup is still a distant dream for most of the 211 teams of 211 FIFA member federations. To expand hope, FIFA decided to increase the number of teams to 48 from the 2026 World Cup, but in reality, it has not been able to solve many "dreams".
Moreover, according to many experts, the 32-team World Cup is still the most ideal form of organization. That raises the question, why is there no idea of holding another World Cup - which can be called the World Cup B, for the group of 100 teams ranked lower? The tournament not only creates more playgrounds for mid-level teams, but also opens up fair, substantial and motivating opportunities for countries struggling to find a position in the club world.
In terms of efficiency, if World Cup A continues to be a place of gathering the elite, World Cup B is a land of hope. Teams like Vietnam may be participating in a real World Cup for the first time. The players will play for honor, for fans, because they feel like they are part of the football festival, instead of just playing the role of someone on the sidelines.
In terms of finances, a tournament like the World Cup B - if sponsored and copyrighted appropriately by FIFA - could create a stable cash flow for small federations. No need for huge revenue, just a legitimate playground, with tens of millions of USD in television rights and sponsorship is enough to support football in developing countries for many years.
More importantly, World Cup B will create an unprecedented promotional effect. From Asia to Africa, from the Caribbean to the ocean, football will no longer be completely dominated by Europe or South America. A new ecosystem can be formed - where the World Cup dream is not only for the strong, but for all those who have aspirations.
And if the World Cup B champions are promoted to the World Cup A qualifiers, the motivation will be even greater to promote the development of the rest of the world.
