World Cup being 'sold out' by FIFA: Philipp Lahm

Philipp Lahm, the former Germany captain who led his country to World Cup glory in 2014, has strongly criticised FIFA and the commercialisation of the ongoing World Cup.

In a column written for the German newspaper Die Zeit, Lahm said the World Cup is increasingly "being sold out", which is seriously damaging the tournament's credibility.

Lahm believes the situation is creating deep unease among fans. "It is becoming difficult for supporters to separate FIFA from the World Cup," he wrote.

The former German defender also highlighted the tournament's sky-high ticket prices, accusing FIFA of not providing accurate information about actual demand while maximising revenue.

Lahm also expressed opposition to the proposal of holding the World Cup every two years, arguing that a tournament needs proper preparation and planning to have a lasting impact.

However, he viewed the expanded 48-team format positively, welcoming the participation of new teams such as Scotland, DR Congo and Cape Verde as a positive step for the global growth of football.