As a Chicago sports analyst who grew up watching football in the 90s, I can't help but miss the simplicity of classic tournament formats. This article breaks down why recent expansions of the World Cup (32 was perfect), convoluted UEFA qualifying rules, and the loss of away goals feel like solutions to problems that didn't exist. Using data insights from my Sportradar models, I'll show how money-driven reforms are sacrificing football's soul - one unnecessary matchday at a time.