GUADALAJARA, Mexico — As the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup unfolds, early concerns about a decline in competitive quality due to the inclusion of smaller, less-established teams have not fully materialized.

Through the first 24 matches, the average goal differential remained the same as in the 2022 tournament in Qatar, suggesting the presence of more teams has not led to an increase in one-sided contests. Although there have been some lopsided results—Germany’s 7-1 victory over World Cup newcomer Curacao and Canada’s 6-0 win against co-host Qatar—several underdog teams have demonstrated resilience and competitiveness.

Among the notable performances, Cape Verde, ranked 67th globally and one of the tournament’s smallest nations, secured a surprising 0-0 draw against reigning European champions Spain. Similarly, Congo, whose only prior World Cup appearance was in 1974 as Zaire, managed a 1-1 draw against Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad, a team favored to advance far in the tournament.

Experts attribute the increasing competitiveness to the globalization of soccer talent and knowledge. Players from a wider range of countries are now participating in top-tier leagues, while smaller nations have hired experienced coaches and adopted advanced tactical and conditioning methods. This evolution has narrowed the gap between traditional soccer powerhouses and emerging teams.

Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre emphasized the heightened level of difficulty in securing victories. “It surprised me how even things are... All other matches were very complicated,” he said. “The teams have been improving. Until recently, we didn’t know much about Cape Verde, and there it is. Morocco played a tremendous match against Brazil.”

Despite the increase in total goals scored—from 57 in the first 24 matches of the 2022 World Cup to 75 so far in 2026—the goal differential has remained constant at 35. This suggests greater offensive activity but balanced competition.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged the challenge posed by Cape Verde, highlighting the importance of focus and precision in a tournament marked by tight competition. “This game showed us that the World Cup is a tournament with a lot of equality,” he said.

Other teams representing smaller nations have also held their own. Curacao, ranked 82nd, kept pace with Germany at 1-1 until late in the first half before the German side pulled away. Haiti, whose world ranking stood at 83rd, showed promise with a narrow loss to Scotland before succumbing 3-0 to five-time champion Brazil. New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team at 85th, drew 1-1 against higher-ranked Iran.

Amid debates over the expanded format, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin faced criticism from multiple soccer governing bodies in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for remarks suggesting the increase in participants resulted in uninteresting matches. While Ceferin acknowledged the opportunity for smaller countries to engage with the tournament, the federations of Cape Verde, Congo, Curacao, Haiti, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, alongside those from Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia, released a joint statement emphasizing the universal nature of football.

“Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality,” the statement said. “For many countries, participation in the FIFA World Cup is not only a sporting achievement. It is a moment that inspires a generation, accelerates football development and creates memories that last a lifetime.”

While the journey for many of these underdog teams may be short-lived, some coaches remain optimistic. Tunisia’s new coach, Hervé Renard, pointed to Cape Verde’s unexpected performances as motivation ahead of his team’s upcoming match against Japan. “When you are organized and together, you are able to compete,” he said, urging his squad to embrace this example and not fear defeat.