48 team World Cup

Seems like this is happening now from 2026... 16 groups of 3 being mooted. Thoughts?

Not keen on it myself, will it mean more qualifiers? Certainly lower quality. 80 games across 32 days. How many of the 16 will come from Europe? Not many I bet.

Will make fifa more money though Also means less countrys will be able to host...

 

Groups of 3 is a terrible idea for so many reasons.

 

I can't wait for this. Seeing England lose to the Solomon Islands, whose team consists of players over 30 stone each, will be absolutely marvellous.

 

Another example of money being put ahead of the sport itself.

 

F**k it, why don't they just have every national football team playing in the final tournament, starting in January with the final on December 31st. Qualifying groups of two teams each, away goals double, 4 points for a goal and 1 point for a corner, tied matches decided on arm wrestling.

Sounds really stupid - so half of my ideas will implemented within the next five years.

 

Gotta laugh at SFA saying it's a good move 'particuarly for smaller nations'

They still won't get anywhere near it

 

What about a straight ko out of a hat tournament including all 200 or so members?

 

Isle of Wight has got to be in with a chance now. Despite having to get the extra wide boots made for them.

 

Ridiculous idea. Takes away the merit of qualifying.

 

Greed has already killed this competitions, just look at the next couple of venues. This does not even bother me now, maybe England will manage to be one of the only football nations to not qualify......now thats a challenge!

 

I'd rather we refused to play. Maybe a bit OTT but when considered with the Poppy fiasco & then Blatter, Russia, Qatar, Qatar winter / summer tournament dates (deserves two mentions). Jeez, I could go on & on. Yes, let's jump ship.

 

Agree that groups of 3 are not good.

With 2 going through, it'll make for even more defensive football than at the Euros last year

 

it puts so much more stress on the host nation, more team hotels, more training pitches , more stadiums and transport

 

I like football, but the World Cup is boring enough in it's current format, without involving more teams

 

The are many reasons to be against this, but replacing a group game with an extra KO game (for everyone who qualifies from the group, which is most!) is a good thing in my view. I'm actually going to see the positives in this. (And for sides like us, with a habit of only drawing against a Slovakia or an Algeria, there's every chance that the second and final group game also becomes a de-facto KO match!)

 

Just to put this madness into some sort of perspective, the 1966 World Cup held in England only had 16 teams and was all over in just 19 days, start to finish.

 

For me the big issue is the fact it's impossible to play final games at the same time leading to some potentially dodgy final games. 2 draws will most likely put teams through leading to negative games like the Euros.

Also you could probably pick who will go out in each get group and get at least 10/12 right.

Be interesting to see how they do the seeding (if they indeed go down this route).

 

Sounds all Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman to me.

 

Couldn't care less if it was a 100 teams,only games i am truly interested in watching are Saints games. Haven't taken an interest in International games for many many years. Dislike FIFA with a passion.