Former Germany coach and striker Jürgen Klinsmann thinks the decision to expand the men's World Cup to 48 teams from 32 could have a negative effect on the quality on show.
The June 11-July 19 tournament in North America will see debutants Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan joining the party alongside rare qualifiers such as Haiti, DR Congo, Iraq and Scotland.
"I am worried that it will be diluted because there are too many teams there that cannot keep up with the top sides," Klinsmann, who will work as a broadcaster and FIFA technical observer at the event, told the Rheinischen Post on Wednesday.
Klinsmann also rejected the idea that a quarter-final or last-four finish could be viewed as a success for four-times winners Germany.
Julian Nagelsmann's side are not among the favourites heading into the extravaganza. Germany have crashed out twice in the group stage since their last triumph in 2014, but Klinsmann believes going all the way is the only possible target.
"We are compelled to have the World Cup title in our sights," said the 61-year-old, who won the 1990 tournament as a player and coached Germany to third place in 2006.
Getting excited about reaching the last eight or the semi-finals "is completely the wrong approach," he added. "Germany's goal can only be returning as world champions."
Germany hosted Euro 2024 and were eliminated in the quarters to eventual winners Spain.
"I was shocked when people said going out in the last eight at the Euros was a success," Klinsmann remarked.
Matthias Sammer, a Euro 1996 victor with Germany, says Nagelsmann needs to go back to basics with what made the nation a world football power.
"Among our strengths have always been fighting spirit and will. That is what defined all our great teams," the 58-year-old told Stern magazine. "And now we almost feel ashamed of these virtues.
"We talk too much about the beauty of the game, about possession and too little about how to win the trophy."
