Hugo Broos criticises expanded 48-team World Cup ahead of South Africa’s Mexico opener

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has voiced clear reservations about FIFA’s expanded 48-team World Cup format, describing the revised structure as “a bit too big” and highlighting the physical and logistical strain placed on participating teams.

The 23rd edition of the tournament, being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has been expanded for the first time in its history, significantly increasing the number of matches and travel demands for competing nations.

Broos, speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of South Africa’s opening Group game against hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca, pointed to the demanding schedule as a major concern for his squad, which is set to travel extensively across North America, including fixtures in cities such as Atlanta and Monterrey.

“It’s a bit too big when you play with 48 countries,” he said. “Forty years ago it was a World Cup in Mexico, but now it is modern times, and we have to adapt.”

While acknowledging the need to adjust to the modern format, the 74-year-old did not hide his belief that the tournament has become more physically taxing compared to previous editions.

“It’s more exhausting than the previous World Cup, when you are with less countries but we have to accept it.”

The match between South Africa and Mexico is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 GMT, marking a high-profile start to Broos’ side’s campaign in a group stage already shaped by intense travel demands and heightened expectations.

The expanded format, which FIFA introduced to increase global participation, continues to draw mixed reactions from coaches and analysts, with concerns often centred on player fatigue and scheduling congestion.