Former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke highly praised South Africa's historic performance in the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup tournament. However, he expressed concerns regarding FIFA's plans to further increase the number of participants to 64 teams, which, in his opinion, could negatively affect the level of matches.
In Yorke's view, the recently concluded tournament in the expanded format was a great success, and South Africa's history became one of the main events. He noted that teams like South Africa gained the opportunity to advance further in the competition.
Bafana Bafana advanced to the playoffs for the first time in their history. Although they ultimately lost to co-host Canada in the Round of 32, their participation was recognized as a triumph. Yorke added that even under the previous 32-team format, Bafana would have advanced after finishing second in the group.
There was previously a significant debate about the transition from 32 to 48 teams, as it was unknown how this would affect the course of the tournament. Yorke emphasized that the expansion definitely improved the World Cup itself, but the main problem remains the duration and volume of football that must be played in such a large event.
However, a serious discussion arose because FIFA is considering an even larger expansion of the format to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. Yorke cautioned against this step, questioning whether it would harm the actual quality of the competition. He stated that while it is important to give other countries a chance to see world-class football and experience different cultures, caution must be exercised.
He warned that there should not be an endless increase in the number of participants: 'We went from 32 to 48, and now potentially to 64—next time they will want to invite 100 teams.'
According to FIFA statistics, a ranking of the best footballers of the 2026 World Cup was compiled. This ranking takes into account players' effectiveness in developing attacks and creating scoring opportunities.
All field players who participated in the tournament were evaluated based on three aspects: attacking, creative, and defensive metrics, with scores ranging from 0 to 10.
France national team winger Michael Olise took first place in the creativity metric, scoring 8.29 points. Thanks to this result, Olise also became the tournament's top assist provider, making 7 assists during the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi ranked second in the creativity rating with a score of 8.26 points, and Kylian Mbappé placed third with 7.84 points.
For a long time, South Africa's relationship with the World Cup was defined by unrealized potential. Despite moments of hope and having talented squads, exiting in the group stage remained a constant problem.
However, the 2026 Bafana Bafana generation achieved something unprecedented—they led South Africa beyond the group stage of the World Cup for the first time. This success lifted the burden of years of disappointment.
Previously, the 1998 team participated in the tournament after recovering in international football but was eliminated in the group. Four years later, in 2002, the team was very close to success, defeating Slovenia 3-2, but the goal difference led to elimination despite having an equal number of points as Paraguay.
Then came 2010, when the home championship generated huge expectations, but even the advantage of playing on home soil did not allow the team to advance further, making Bafana the first host nation to exit in the group stage. These memories remained part of the national team's history, and each new generation carried the responsibility of changing this script.
The 2026 team managed to change this history. Under the guidance of coach Hugo Broos, Bafana formed its identity based on discipline, organization, and belief. They stopped merely competing with the world's best and started challenging them.
The breakthrough occurred in Monterrey when Tapelo Maseko's decisive goal against South Korea secured a historic spot in the playoffs. However, the achievement was driven not only by this moment but also by the development of a squad combining experience with fearless young talent.
Relebogile Mofokeng stepped onto the main stage without fear of the event. Mbekezeli Mbokazi demonstrated maturity beyond his years in defense, while players like Tapelo Maseko and Osim Apollos showed South Africa's attacking potential. Alongside them were experienced figures, including captain Ronwen Williams, Tebogo Mokoe, and Aubrey Modibu, who laid the foundation for the flourishing of the young generation.
The main difference between this team and previous ones is that they arrived at the World Cup not just hoping to survive, but believing in their place among the elite. Although the subsequent defeat to Canada in the playoffs brought disappointment, it did not erase what had already been achieved.
History has been made. Now the task is to ensure this moment becomes a starting point, not a one-off achievement. The next step is consistent performance beyond the group stage, challenging top African teams, and closing the gap with footballing elites. Nevertheless, the 2026 generation deserves recognition for carrying the memory of past generations, overcoming the weight of expectations, and finally breaking through the barrier that stood for so long.
