FIFA World Cup

[Mistle17]

Looking forward to us topping a group of us, Bangladesh, and Chad.

[Kaizero]

Looking forward to us topping a group of us, Bangladesh, and Chad.

 

As if you'd top that group

[leffe186]

I wondered how the breakdown would work. Apparently this is the likely deal:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/10/48-team-world-cup-fifa-plan-2026

 

Europe - 16 teams (was 13)

Africa - 9 (5)

Asia - 8.5 (4.5)

CONCACAF - 6.5 (3.5)

South America 6 (4.5)

Oceania 1 (0.5)

Host Nation

 

So that's great for New Zealand . Asia has 47 countries so that makes sense. Europe has 55 countries, of a generally high standard, and Africa has 56, so that makes sense too. It starts getting particularly sketchy when you look at CONCACAF and South America. South America has a grand total of ten countries, so 60% of them will qualify. No wonder they're up for it. That would be like 33 teams from Europe. CONCACAF has 41 members, but 31 of those are in the Caribbean.

 

Eh, I don't really care. I would say the more the merrier, if I didn't loathe FIFA with a burning passion.

 

[Kaizero]

My favourite part of the WC is watching minnows in the group stages, so I'm all for it.

[Mikky]

My favourite part of the WC is watching minnows in the group stages, so I'm all for it.

 

The expanded Euros were awful IMO - an expanded WC will be even worse

[Kaizero]

My favourite part of the WC is watching minnows in the group stages, so I'm all for it.

 

The expanded Euros were awful IMO - an expanded WC will be even worse

 

I loved the expanded Euros. I wanted 32 teams in it.

[Mikky]

My favourite part of the WC is watching minnows in the group stages, so I'm all for it.

 

The expanded Euros were awful IMO - an expanded WC will be even worse

 

I loved the expanded Euros. I wanted 32 teams in it.

 

Cool - I just loved the old 16 team format with 2 groups being groups of death

[Mikky]

Plus I hated Portugal finishing 3rd in the group and winning the thing

[SEMTEX]

Europe - 16 teams (was 13)

Africa - 9 (5)

Asia - 8.5 (4.5)

CONCACAF - 6.5 (3.5)

South America 6 (4.5)

Oceania 1 (0.5)

Host Nation

 

So that's great for New Zealand . Asia has 47 countries so that makes sense. Europe has 55 countries, of a generally high standard, and Africa has 56, so that makes sense too. It starts getting particularly sketchy when you look at CONCACAF and South America. South America has a grand total of ten countries, so 60% of them will qualify. No wonder they're up for it. That would be like 33 teams from Europe. CONCACAF has 41 members, but 31 of those are in the Caribbean.

 

 

I think there needs to be a balance between size of continent and actual quality of the teams. IYAM South America could be given more than 6.

 

For 2018, 6 South American teams would be:

 

Brazil*

Uruguay*

Argentina*

Colombia*

Peru*

Chile

 

with Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela failing to make the cut.

 

In Asia, 8.5 teams sees the following teams qualify:

 

Iran*

South Korea*

Japan*

Saudi Arabia*

Australia*

Syria

Uzbekistan

UAE

Iraq/China to play qualifier

 

CONCACAF:

 

Mexico*

Costa Rica*

Panama*

Honduras

USA

Trinidad and Tobago

Guatamala/Haiti/Canada to play qualifier

 

Not sure if you've worked out my point yet, but those additional North America/Asia teams that could get in? All fucking shite.

[leffe186]

Oh I know, but I can live with that to make it more of a "World" cup.

[Kaizero]

My favourite part of the WC is watching minnows in the group stages, so I'm all for it.

 

The expanded Euros were awful IMO - an expanded WC will be even worse

 

I loved the expanded Euros. I wanted 32 teams in it.

 

Cool - I just loved the old 16 team format with 2 groups being groups of death

 

I hate how three teams can advance from a group, hence why I'd rather have 32 than 24. But again, I'm a sucker for watching minnows on a major stage. I feel like the majority of people are not

 

Basically why I'd much rather have 64 teams in a World Cup than 48.

[SEMTEX]

Oh I know, but I can live with that to make it more of a "World" cup.

 

My issue is that we'll have groups like: Germany, Chile, UAE, where both Germany and Chile will obliterate UAE and effectively qualify from winning that single game.

 

I'd almost be happier if they set out a slow roll-out plan. Like those numbers are the end-game. So right now we marginally increase Asia/COMBEBNEBAL numbers, and they'll slowly increase over the years. So by World Cup 2142, Haiti can make the World Cup.

[triggs]

I wondered how the breakdown would work. Apparently this is the likely deal:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/10/48-team-world-cup-fifa-plan-2026

 

Europe - 16 teams (was 13)

Africa - 9 (5)

Asia - 8.5 (4.5)

CONCACAF - 6.5 (3.5)

South America 6 (4.5)

Oceania 1 (0.5)

Host Nation

 

So that's great for New Zealand . Asia has 47 countries so that makes sense. Europe has 55 countries, of a generally high standard, and Africa has 56, so that makes sense too. It starts getting particularly sketchy when you look at CONCACAF and South America. South America has a grand total of ten countries, so 60% of them will qualify. No wonder they're up for it. That would be like 33 teams from Europe. CONCACAF has 41 members, but 31 of those are in the Caribbean.

 

Eh, I don't really care. I would say the more the merrier, if I didn't loathe FIFA with a burning passion.

Nearly all the South American teams are really good though. Chile would easily qualify in any other federation

[Deuce]

I wondered how the breakdown would work. Apparently this is the likely deal:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/10/48-team-world-cup-fifa-plan-2026

 

Europe - 16 teams (was 13)

Africa - 9 (5)

Asia - 8.5 (4.5)

CONCACAF - 6.5 (3.5)

South America 6 (4.5)

Oceania 1 (0.5)

Host Nation

 

So that's great for New Zealand . Asia has 47 countries so that makes sense. Europe has 55 countries, of a generally high standard, and Africa has 56, so that makes sense too. It starts getting particularly sketchy when you look at CONCACAF and South America. South America has a grand total of ten countries, so 60% of them will qualify. No wonder they're up for it. That would be like 33 teams from Europe. CONCACAF has 41 members, but 31 of those are in the Caribbean.

 

Eh, I don't really care. I would say the more the merrier, if I didn't loathe FIFA with a burning passion.

 

 

Needs to be a knockout tournament.

[Raconteur]

Am I correct in thinking there is going to be 16 groups of three teams, and the top two advance to a knockout phase from then on?

 

So... if you're ranked in the bottom 16 nations (out of 48 qualifiers), then you turn up to the World Cup, get pounded twice and go home? Interesting way of growing the game...

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Am I correct in thinking there is going to be 16 groups of three teams, and the top two advance to a knockout phase from then on?

 

So... if you're ranked in the bottom 16 nations (out of 48 qualifiers), then you turn up to the World Cup, get pounded twice and go home? Interesting way of growing the game...

 

Isn’t that exactly what happens now to those nations? Minus a 3rd group game.

[triggs]

Think I'd endure the shit first group stage as the knockout stage would be canny

[Raconteur]

Am I correct in thinking there is going to be 16 groups of three teams, and the top two advance to a knockout phase from then on?

 

So... if you're ranked in the bottom 16 nations (out of 48 qualifiers), then you turn up to the World Cup, get pounded twice and go home? Interesting way of growing the game...

 

Isn’t that exactly what happens now to those nations? Minus a 3rd group game.

 

Only two matches on the world stage is a pretty big step down from three matches. And if there is four teams in a group, the minnows are a chance of at least getting a point somewhere.

 

We have deep structural problems in our game, but this new allocation means we are almost certain to stumble to the World Cup every time. Surely at some point the question becomes "To what end?"

[54]

Apparently Qatar don't have enough stadiums to support the expansion and might have to share hosting with Kuwait in order to have enough.

[Disco]

The same Kuwait who were recently banned from participating in international football? Sure, why not? At least they've been to a WC.

[Disco]

Mexico, Canada, USA to host.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Canada

 

 

[sbnufc]

48 teams?

 

Can't wait for Canada v Armenia opening game

[Happinesstan]

Gathering around the family mobile to watch the world cup?

[Mole_Toonfan]

Can't wait to beat TRC's boys 8-0 tbh.