World Cup will now have 48 teams....

[handicappers]

The FIFA Council has rubber-stamped plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026 onwards, adding 16 extra nations.

 

[handicappers]

With 80 matches instead of 64, FIFA forecasts $1 billion extra income from broadcasting and sponsor deals, plus ticket sales, compared to $5.5bn forecast for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.



The other major decision regarding 2026 -- who will host the event -- is not scheduled for consideration until 2020 with a bid featuring United States, either on its own or in conjunction with one or both of Canada and Mexico, the overwhelming favourite.

 

[handicappers]

FIFA Council unanimously approves World Cup expansion to 48 teams


I don't know. 16 groups of 3? two advance from each group then a sudden death style tournament? I predict waaaaay too many "penalty shootouts".

 

[bksballer89]

The FIFA Council has rubber-stamped plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026 onwards, adding 16 extra nations.

This is beyond stupid

 

[bksballer89]

If you thought the expanded Euro tournament was bad then just wait for this nonsense. More African teams and more Europe teams.

 

[tabascojet]

CL further distancing itself as the best tournament......

 

[TJL]

It's still going to be the same amount of games played, will go to knockout format quicker.

Most coaches are all for this, including Mourinho of Man U.

I'm all for it.

 

[TJL]

CL further distancing itself as the best tournament......

Well club tournaments are usually much better than intl tournaments to begin with, much better squads put together.

CR7 owns them both though, so it doesn't really matter, CL cup and the Euro championship this year

 

[tducey]

The 16 groups of 3 is what I disagree with. To me 12 groups of 4 would have been fine. Actually 48 teams is a bit much, if they did expansion do it to 40 teams.

 

[bksballer89]

Going from 4 team groups to 3 is just stupid. This whole thing is stupid.

 

[antone112]

I like 2 groups of 24 myself.

 

[Gopherfan84]

Talk about watering down the most prestigious tournament in the world...

 

[xpuctaqpGT]

It's still going to be the same amount of games played, will go to knockout format quicker.

Most coaches are all for this, including Mourinho of Man U.

I'm all for it.

Not quite. Currently in the group stage 48 games are played. (Each group of 4 plays 6 games, times 8 groups)
Then once there are 16 teams you have 8 games, then 4, then 2, then 1, plus the "runner up" game. =64 games

Under the new system, there will still be 48 games in the group stage. (each group of 3 plays 3 games, times 16 groups.) Then afterwards you have 32 teams which play 16 games, then 8, then 4, then 2, then 1, plus the "runner up" game = 80 games.

If the US hosts this we will set attendance records that won't be topped by the next two World Cups combined. We just have the biggest stadiums on the planet.....

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Germany with the repeat.

 

[bksballer89]

Also this new format is going to add a lot of tanking to the final game of group stage which is why groups of 4 makes more sense. They always wanted all the teams from the group to play at the same together in the last match of the group stage to avoid that nonsense........Now it is almost like they're encouraging it

 

[Airraidtech]

So there is a chance the US could qualify!?!?!? Yippie!!