Philippe Troussier, the well-travelled French coach who has been in charge of eight national teams over his long career, has thrown his weight behind the expansion of the football World Cup finals to 48 sides from 2026.
The 68-year-old, who earned the nickname the 'White Witch Doctor' while working with teams in Africa before leading Japan at the 2002 World Cup, believes the move will bring positive benefits far beyond the confines of the game.
"It will create a big impact, not only for the countries that are able to go to the World Cup, but it will develop the country," said Troussier, who was recently appointed Vietnam coach.
"When you know your country has no hope, even less than 1 percent, to go to the World Cup, why develop the pitches? Why pay a foreign coach? Why start a technical program for the youth?
"You have no dream. And we have to dream. We have to hope."
Traditionalists are unhappy at the increase in the size of the tournament from the 32 teams that have contested every World Cup since 1998, arguing the quality of the competition will be diluted as a result.
For the likes of Troussier, who has coached mainly in Africa and Asia over the last 35 years, the prospect of more nations from outside Europe and South America qualifying for the finals is a major positive. "With 48 teams, eight in Asia and especially in Southeast Asia, then teams can dream," he said. "Personally I support this project."
Despite the huge popularity of football in the region, no Southeast Asian nation has qualified for the World Cup since Indonesia - then the Dutch East Indies - made an appearance at the finals in 1938.
Troussier believes the enlarged format could also work to the advantage of traditionally powerful nations, many of whom have stumbled during the group phase at the tournament.
"In this format they can make [the first stage] a warm-up and that's why we can consider the real World Cup will start after two weeks.
"Every four years it is a big festival and if you're a small country you can work a lot and have a lot of hope. For me this process is important to develop youth, football infrastructure, coaches."
Philippe Troussier, center, believes a bigger World Cup will bring benefits far beyond the game. AFP
