Former Premier League stars Gaizka Mendieta and Luis Boa Morte are not fans of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams.
The current format of 32 teams competing on football's grandest stage has been in place since 1998, including at the ongoing 2018 edition in Russia.
The proposal of adding another 16 teams was initially mooted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but discussions over the matter did not materialise in the end.
However, it would be fully implemented for the 2026 edition, which would be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Boa Morte and Mendieta, who were in Malaysia as Astro's guest pundits, commented on the matter after Russia crushed Saudi Arabia 5-0 on Thursday.
{^widget|(videourl)https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dOpwcK4cIKbg|(name)YouTubeVideo|(autoplay)False|(widget_displayname)YouTube+video|(width)580|(height)327^}
"I think it is more in a perspective of giving chances to players who have good and long careers but have never participated in the big competition," said Boa Morte, who participated in his maiden FIFA World Cup in 2006.
"For example, Ryan Giggs, one of the top players in the world, never had the chance to play in the competition.
"As they open up for more countries to participate at the World Cup, just like the Euros did, I believe [it will be good] for supporters because they will get to see more goals, but we will lose the quality of football.
"We will start losing quality in qualifiers because you won't get tough games anymore and the teams will keep thinking about their second chances.
"They might think, 'We can lose today but we have a chance to get back and still qualify even if we finish third.'"
Mendieta also echoed his fellow guest pundit's sentiments, pointing out the Euro 2016 as an example.
"By opening up to more teams, you give more opportunities to these countries to be inovlved, but the World Cup is an elite competition and only the best teams should be there, which is why we have qualifiers," said the former Spain international.
"[Having 48 team] will not only risk having uneven games, but also losing the quality, as you want the World Cup to have the best players and teams to do their best and let you enjoy these matches.
"We saw it at the Euro 2016 with more teams involved, where the games were sometimes not attractive."
The current format of 32 teams competing on football's grandest stage has been in place since 1998, including at the ongoing 2018 edition in Russia.
The proposal of adding another 16 teams was initially mooted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but discussions over the matter did not materialise in the end.
However, it would be fully implemented for the 2026 edition, which would be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Boa Morte and Mendieta, who were in Malaysia as Astro's guest pundits, commented on the matter after Russia crushed Saudi Arabia 5-0 on Thursday.
{^widget|(videourl)https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dOpwcK4cIKbg|(name)YouTubeVideo|(autoplay)False|(widget_displayname)YouTube+video|(width)580|(height)327^}
"I think it is more in a perspective of giving chances to players who have good and long careers but have never participated in the big competition," said Boa Morte, who participated in his maiden FIFA World Cup in 2006.
"For example, Ryan Giggs, one of the top players in the world, never had the chance to play in the competition.
"As they open up for more countries to participate at the World Cup, just like the Euros did, I believe [it will be good] for supporters because they will get to see more goals, but we will lose the quality of football.
"We will start losing quality in qualifiers because you won't get tough games anymore and the teams will keep thinking about their second chances.
"They might think, 'We can lose today but we have a chance to get back and still qualify even if we finish third.'"
Mendieta also echoed his fellow guest pundit's sentiments, pointing out the Euro 2016 as an example.
"By opening up to more teams, you give more opportunities to these countries to be inovlved, but the World Cup is an elite competition and only the best teams should be there, which is why we have qualifiers," said the former Spain international.
"[Having 48 team] will not only risk having uneven games, but also losing the quality, as you want the World Cup to have the best players and teams to do their best and let you enjoy these matches.
"We saw it at the Euro 2016 with more teams involved, where the games were sometimes not attractive."
