FIFA’s expansionist ideals have opened the World Cup to 48 teams, with an unrelenting schedule barely offering respite for viewers around the globe, let alone those actually involved across three North American countries this summer.
After 17 days, 72 matches and an impressive 215 goals, only 16 nations were eliminated from the group stage. The all-new round of 32 represents the start of the knockout stages, where behemoths collide with debutants in a bid to perpetuate their respective campaigns.
