The modern game has never been bigger. Whether it is better remains the question FIFA is daring the world to answer.

As global football closes a relentless year and accelerates toward a supersized 2026 World Cup, the sport’s governors are doubling down on expansion, convinced that the appetite for football is limitless – even as concerns over quality, fatigue and balance grow louder.

FIFA points to the past 12 months as proof of concept. Its expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the United States drew 2.4 million fans, culminating in an 81,000-strong crowd for the final as Chelsea swept aside Paris Saint-Germain. For FIFA, it was validation.

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