Philippe Troussier, the properly-travelled French coach who has been in fee of eight usually minor country wide teams over his long profession, has thrown his weight behind the expansion of the World Cup finals to 48 aspects from 2026.
The sixty eight-12 months-antique Parisian, who earned the nickname the ‘White Witch Doctor’ at the same time as operating with teams in Africa before main Japan on the 2002 World Cup finals, believes the pass will bring high quality blessings far beyond the confines of the sport.
“It will create a big impact, not handiest for the countries that are able to visit the World Cup, but it’s going to develop the usa,” Troussier, who became lately appointed as Vietnam instruct, told Reuters.
“When you know your u . S . Has no wish, even much less than 1% to go to the World Cup, why expand the pitches? Why pay a overseas educate? Why begin a technical programme for the kids? You have no dream. And we should dream. We should hope.”
Plenty of traditionalists are sad on the increase inside the length of the event from the 32 groups which have contested each World Cup considering 1998, arguing the nice of the competition may be diluted as a result.
For the likes of Troussier, who has coached specially in Africa and Asia over the last 35 years, the chance of more international locations from outside Europe and South America qualifying for the finals is a primary fantastic.
“With 48 teams, eight in Asia and mainly in Southeast Asia, then teams can dream,” he stated. “Personally I assist this venture.”
Despite the big popularity of football inside the vicinity, no Southeast Asian kingdom has certified for the World Cup for the reason that Indonesia – then the Dutch East Indies – made an look on the finals in 1938.
Troussier has been tasked with changing that as he seems to construct on the work performed by using Korean Park Hang-seo, who took Vietnam through to the very last phase of Asian qualifying for the first time in 2021.
“That’s why the Vietnam Football Federation have created a special price range and albeit I even have all the facilities to finish my process and they trust in me,” he said.
“They provide to the national team all my requests. I absolutely have loved my second here and I feel like I did when I became in Japan.”
Powerful nations
Troussier believes the enlarged layout, which starts with the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, can also work to the advantage of traditionally powerful countries, a lot of whom have stumbled during the organization section at the match.”I recognize whilst humans ask why you will want the World Cup to go to forty eight teams,” he stated. “But in this case we ought to don’t forget the real World Cup will now not start at the primary degree, due to the fact what number of massive teams will go out like they did inside the old format?”
Troussier factors out that protecting champions France were removed inside the group phase in 2002 even as Spain and Germany were knocked out early in 2014 and 2018 respectively having won the trophy four years in advance.
“At the start of the process the high-degree groups want time,” he added. “In this layout they are able to make it a warm-up and that’s why we can don’t forget the real World Cup will start after two weeks.
“Every four years it’s miles a huge pageant and in case you’re a small united states of america you may work loads and have a variety of desire. For me this method is crucial to increase kids, to expand football infrastructure, coaches. I think it’s far important.”