The upcoming 48-team World Cup format, including the reintroduction of third-placed qualifiers, is raising concerns about potential match manipulation and a lack of sporting integrity. These worries stem from the infamous 1982 World Cup in Gijon, where a calculated result between West Germany and Austria eliminated Algeria. The expanded format creates scenarios where teams could benefit from strategically playing for specific outcomes to advance, rather than striving for outright victory. Critics argue this incentivizes collusion, undermining the competitive spirit of the tournament. FIFA faces the challenge of safeguarding the World Cup’s fairness as the new structure increases the possibility of such calculated matches. The 'disgrace of Gijon' serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of prioritizing qualification over genuine competition.