THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP AND ITS IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
Authors
Yigitaliyev Abubakir Farxodjon o‘g‘li, Tuliboyeva Sadoqat Akmurat qizi ()Files
Abstract
This article examines the increase in the number of participants in the FIFA World Cup and its impact on the development of international football. The expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 national teams represents not only a structural change in the competition format, but also a broader transformation in global football policy, sporting equality, competitive opportunities and national football development. The new format creates wider access for countries from different confederations, especially those that previously had limited chances to qualify for the final stage of the tournament. From a sports-pedagogical point of view, this process increases the importance of long-term football training, youth selection, physical preparation, tactical literacy and psychological readiness of players. The article analyzes how the expanded World Cup format may influence the development of football infrastructure, coaching systems, national leagues and international experience exchange. Special attention is paid to the relevance of this issue for countries seeking to strengthen their position in world football, including the need to improve youth football schools, sports education programs and scientific-methodological approaches to training. The study argues that the increase in the number of World Cup participants can become an important factor in democratizing international football, stimulating regional competition and motivating developing football nations to invest more consistently in player development, coaching quality and modern sports technologies.
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