Have World Cup changes made final group stage games unfair?

The 2026 World Cup’s expanded format, allowing 32 of 48 teams to advance, inherently reduced early-stage jeopardy. Now, fans are realizing the significant impact of two key changes: a switch to head-to-head tiebreakers over goal difference and the return of a third-placed teams table. These revisions are reshaping the dynamics of the final group games.