World Cup Expanded to 48 Teams

shane

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From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38565246

The World Cup will be expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32, Fifa has decided.

An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for the 2026 tournament.

The sport's world governing body voted through the change at a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday.

The number of tournament matches will rise to 80, from 64, but the eventual winners will still play only seven games.

The tournament will be completed within 32 days - a measure to appease powerful European clubs, who objected to reform because of a crowded international schedule.

The changes mark the first World Cup expansion since 1998.

Why expand?
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been behind the move, saying the World Cup has to be "more inclusive".

Speaking at a sports conference in Dubai in December, Infantino said expansion will also benefit "the development of football all over the world".

He added: "There is nothing bigger in terms of boosting football in a country than participating in a World Cup."

Despite saying "the decision should not just be financially driven", Infantino did highlight the possible financial upsides.

According to Fifa's own research, revenue is predicted to increase to £5.29bn for a 48-team tournament, giving a potential profit rise of £521m.

The saving grace of international football has always been the main tournaments but with the ridiculous levels of corruption in FIFA, the locations of the next two tournaments and now the expanding to 48 teams rendering the qualification process virtually pointless, is this the final nail in the coffin?
 

Son of Cod

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One less England group match to suffer? Sounds alright to me.
 

BigDaveCUFC

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At least fifa are trying to find their 500 odd million 'tips' fund by legal means this time.

A ridiculous waste of space tourney done to get a small handful of people more money, think even tv companies may lose interest at this point.....overkill of too many worthless games
 

AFCB_Mark

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Suggested distribution of new expanded slots, this is the proposal to be voted on and ratified in May this year.
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Dirk

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Ah, now they are even considering 48 teams? This Infantini boy talked first about 40 when he was elected. And even 40 would be too much. We've seen it already at the Euro when they blowed up the tournament to 24 that this isn't good. Maybe it brings more money but never more quality.
But why am I so angry? Normally I shouldn't be surprised that they don't have the quality in mind but only the quantity (of money).
 
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Dirk

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Maybe they did this under the impression of "UEFA blowed up the Euro to 24, that's 50% more, so we'll have to blow up the World Cup with the same percentage" :D
 

Libertadores FC

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The saddest part is that we still probably won't qualify :lol:
 

hodge

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I'm sure teams who play the last group game won't fix it if it benefits both teams....
 

Liam_SWFC

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What a joke, the quality at the Euros in the summer was garbage so imagine how bad this will be.
 

Murphy

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Saw something this morning that suggested CONMEBOL will now get 7 spaces. Is that true does anyone know?
 

mistermagic

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What a joke, the quality at the Euros in the summer was garbage so imagine how bad this will be.
I was expecting worse tbh but agree with the general idea. It's terrible.

However, I sort of sympathize with FIFA as the World Cup is the only thing they have while UEFA have other tournaments like the Champions' League or the Europa League to fall back on and bring money in thus keeping the attention they crave. FIFA are the same but they are only the attention of the world once every 48 months. It's no wonder that they want to expand their sole product and make more customers participate. They are a business after all.
Don't get me wrong, it's a horrible idea, one that will bring very poor quality sides to a major tournament, one with tremendous tradition. But if it wasn't for the Blatter/Platini scandals, we would never hear of FIFA. Quite an anti-climax for all these corporate suits who like to be taken pictures of and have quotes like "we are developing football worldwide" (and to be fair, some of them probably are).

Anyone remember Blatter trying to showcase a World Cup every other year? Think I'd prefer that than the 48-team option...

Truth be told, it would be quite funny to see 48 teams playing it out in massive Qatar.
 

The Paranoid Pineapple

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Yeah, rather like the expansion of the Euros, this'll be wank. SIXTEEN three team groups and then a 32 team knockout contest? Zzzzz. What a slog. And the qualifiers will be a dreadful chore. International finals are supposed to be elite tournaments. If you invite anyone who can muster a half-decent side to the party you dilute the quality and end up with a much weaker, altogether less interesting product. Rubbish.
 

epic73

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16 groups? So, in most groups it'll be decent vs meh vs rubbish?
 

mente captus

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3 teams Groups....bloody hell.....

Team A beats Team B and C 1:0. The Match between Team B and C ends in a draw....who progress?

the match between Team A and Team B ends 1:1. Team C beats Team A 1:0.
Team B knows that avoiding a defeat vs Team C will be enough to go through. Team C is through, no matter of the Result.

Team A beats Team B 1:0. Team C beats Team A 1:0 and Team B beats Team C 1:0. who is going through?

The Match between Team A and B ends 0:0. between A and C 1:1. a 2:2 between Team B and C will send both of them to the Knock outs
 

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