A possible chance
The possibility of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams has generated considerable debate. Critics fear that a larger tournament could reduce its quality and prestige, while supporters believe that football’s biggest competition should offer greater representation to countries from every region of the world.
For established football powers, expansion may simply mean more matches. For emerging nations such as Eritrea, however, it could create a historic opportunity to develop the game, mobilise the diaspora and realistically compete for a place on the world stage.
A More Realistic Path for Eritrea
Eritrea has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Like many smaller African nations, it has faced an extremely demanding qualification system in which relatively few places have traditionally been available to a continent containing more than 50 national associations.
A 64-team tournament would likely result in additional qualification places for Africa. It would not guarantee Eritrea a place, but it could make the route considerably more realistic.
That distinction is important. Eritrea would still need to defeat strong opponents, prepare consistently and establish a functioning long-term football programme. Expansion would not remove the sporting challenge. It would simply give developing football nations a better chance of turning progress into qualification.
Eritrea Has Competed With the Best Before
Eritrean football history already provides evidence that the national team can compete with established African powers.
In Eritrea’s first World Cup qualification campaign, the national team faced Nigeria in the preliminary round for the 2002 tournament. On 9 April 2000, Eritrea held the Super Eagles to a remarkable 0–0 draw in Asmara. Nigeria later won the return leg 4–0 in Lagos, but the result in Eritrea demonstrated what the country could achieve against one of Africa’s strongest teams.
The achievement becomes even more significant when considering what Nigeria accomplished afterwards. The Super Eagles recovered from the difficult opening match, progressed through the African qualification campaign and eventually secured one of Africa’s five places at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Eritrea therefore earned a draw against a team that would eventually qualify for the World Cup.
That result should not be presented as proof that Eritrea was already ready to qualify. However, it remains a powerful example of the national team’s potential. Eritrea did not need decades of World Cup experience to compete with Nigeria at home. With stronger preparation, regular international matches and access to diaspora talent, similar performances could become less exceptional.
Expansion Could Encourage Investment
National teams struggle to develop when qualification appears almost impossible.
When there is a realistic route to a major tournament, governments, football associations, sponsors and supporters have a stronger incentive to invest. A 64-team World Cup could increase the importance of Eritrea’s qualification campaigns and create pressure for better organisation.
Investment would be needed in areas such as youth development, coaching education, training facilities, sports medicine, scouting and the domestic league.
Even when qualification is not achieved immediately, these improvements would leave a lasting foundation. A serious World Cup project could strengthen Eritrean football beyond one tournament cycle.
The Importance of Regular International Football
One of the greatest obstacles facing Eritrean football has been the lack of continuity.
A national team cannot develop through isolated training camps or occasional qualification matches alone. Players need regular international competition to build chemistry, gain tactical experience and adapt to the demands of playing against different opponents.
A more accessible World Cup could give Eritrea a stronger reason to maintain a continuous national-team programme. Qualification would still be difficult, but every match would carry greater meaning if more African countries had a genuine chance of reaching the tournament.
The historic draw against Nigeria showed what Eritrea could achieve in a single match. The next step must be creating the structures that make such performances possible consistently.
Mobilising Eritrea’s Global Diaspora
One of Eritrea’s greatest potential strengths is its footballing diaspora.
Young players of Eritrean heritage are developing in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, England, Italy, Australia, Canada, the United States and several other countries. Many receive professional coaching from an early age and compete within highly developed football systems.
A realistic World Cup opportunity could persuade more eligible players to represent Eritrea.
For a dual-nationality player, the possibility of participating in World Cup qualification—and potentially reaching the tournament—can be a major factor when choosing an international team. A clear sporting project would make Eritrea more attractive to players who want to represent their heritage while also competing at a high level.
The combination of domestic players and diaspora professionals could significantly strengthen the Red Sea Camels.
Inspiring the Next Generation
A World Cup appearance would have an impact extending far beyond the senior national team.
Children in Eritrea would see players wearing the national colours against some of the most famous teams in the world. Young Eritreans in the diaspora would also feel a stronger connection to the country through football.
This visibility could increase participation, encourage families to support young players and inspire the creation of academies and community football programmes.
For countries without a long history of World Cup participation, qualification can change how an entire generation views what is possible.
Financial Benefits for Football Development
World Cup participation brings substantial financial and commercial opportunities.
Qualified national associations receive tournament-related payments, while visibility can attract sponsorships, partnerships, broadcasting attention and merchandise sales. For a developing football nation, these resources could be transformative when managed responsibly.
The income could support youth competitions, coach education, training centres, women’s football, domestic clubs and improved facilities.
The objective should not be qualification for its own sake. World Cup revenue should become an investment in the future of Eritrean football.
Greater Recognition for Eritrea
The World Cup is not only a sporting event. It is one of the largest global platforms available to any country.
Nations that receive limited international media coverage become visible to millions of people during the tournament. Supporters learn about their culture, history, colours and football traditions.
For Eritrea, qualification would introduce the Red Sea Camels to a global audience and give the country an opportunity to be represented through sport.
The emotional impact would also be significant. Eritreans inside the country and throughout the diaspora could unite behind one team on football’s biggest stage.
Expansion Is an Opportunity, Not a Guarantee
A 64-team World Cup alone would not solve Eritrean football’s problems.
Without stable administration, regular international participation, proper scouting, youth development and long-term planning, additional qualification places would make little difference.
Eritrea would also continue to face strong African opponents. The continent contains many ambitious nations that would benefit from expansion and compete for the same places.
The opportunity would therefore have to be matched by preparation.
From the Nigeria Draw to a New Dream
The 0–0 draw against Nigeria in 2000 remains an important part of Eritrea’s football history.
It came during the country’s first World Cup qualification campaign and against a Nigerian team that later reached the 2002 tournament. Eritrea did not advance, but for 90 minutes in Asmara, the national team proved that reputation alone does not determine the outcome of a football match.
A 64-team World Cup could give Eritrea more opportunities to create similar moments—and eventually turn one of them into qualification.
For the traditional powers, expansion may be seen mainly as a change in format. For Eritrea, it could mean investment, continuity, diaspora unity and a realistic national ambition.
It would represent hope that the Red Sea Camels could one day move from watching the World Cup to participating in it.
The dream would still have to be earned on the pitch. But with more doors open, Eritrea would finally have a greater opportunity to walk through one of them.
Daniel Solomon