What's new

World Cup 2026

England still wont get out the group and Scotland still won't qualify.

In all seriousness it's not a good thing. Makes the qualifier's pointless if 3-4 teams qualify from each group.

 
drjonesy1994 said:
England still wont get out the group and Scotland still won't qualify.

In all seriousness it's not a good thing. Makes the qualifier's pointless if 3-4 teams qualify from each group.
Click to expand...
Exactly. But i'm sure it gives FIFA more opportunities to line their pockets 

 
Won't be watching until the knockout games then.

Watch the rating plummet.

 
Well, I guess I better enjoy the heck out of the 2018 World Cup as I've already decided that I won't be watching the 2022 tournament and now it sounds like I won't be interested in the next tournament(s) either.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
For me the benefits of this were almost entirely based on the chosen format. An expanded tournament could only mean more football, which, from my perspective, can't be a bad thing. That said, there are a few caveats.

In short, these are the formats from which the FIFA Committee chose:

1) A 48-team World Cup consisting of 16 groups of three, with the top two sides qualifying for a last-32 knockout stage (80 games in total);

2) Another 48-team version consisting of a 32-team, one-game knockout round, with the winners joining 16 already-qualified teams (80 games - 16 in preliminary and 64 in main tournament);

3) Expanding it to 40 teams, with 10 groups of four and only six group runners-up advancing (76 games);

4) A 40-team tournament with eight groups of five (88 games);

5) Keeping the World Cup at its present size of 32 teams (64 games).

Assuming option 5 is unavailable, my perspective is:

- I don't like the idea of odd-numbered groups as it increases the likelihood of collusion.

- I don't like seeding as I like all teams who have qualified to begin on an equal footing.

This rules out everything except option 3.

Naturally, FIFA went for the option which includes the most matches, and henceforth, the most money, and sod the consequences.

 
8 or 9 Asian teams is ludicrous. Coming from an Australian.

Sure we would seemingly qualify for every world cup, but sheesh, if we can't finish in the top two teams in our group, in the final section of Asian qualifying, we don't deserve to be there. Most Asian teams are very ordinary. Difficult to travel to, and qualify, but that's largely down to dodgy pitches, and insanely humid conditions.

48 teams just fills the world cup with more teams that will look completely out of place.

 
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 
More matches that will be hard to look at. Like a 20-0 game. 32 should have bwen enough.

 
That 16 groups thing is f**king stupid. 3 teams in a group.....so 2 matches each, why even bother ? They may as well just make it knock out right from the off.

I can live with the teams being increased to 48 ( even though i am against it ) but not when the groups only have 3 teams in it. Why not just have 6 in each group and the top 4 go through ?

The decisions made at the top these days just don't benefit the game at all. 

 
Scott Harris said:
That 16 groups thing is f**king stupid. 3 teams in a group.....so 2 matches each, why even bother ? They may as well just make it knock out right from the off.
Click to expand...
You can't do that with 48 teams. Or do you suggest an expansion to 64? :)

 
Saw this on Twitter: "Using FIFA rankings, here's how World Cup 2026 groups could look. Seeds listed first; top 2 go through. Hell of a draw for Wales and England"

C1zdVmIWEAAXiCQ.jpg


 
kiwi1691 said:
Saw this on Twitter: "Using FIFA rankings, here's how World Cup 2026 groups could look. Seeds listed first; top 2 go through. Hell of a draw for Wales and England"

C1zdVmIWEAAXiCQ.jpg
Click to expand...


Jesus H Christ. When you put it out on a graphic like that....this looks terrible. Just, disgusting. 

 
kiwi1691 said:
Saw this on Twitter: "Using FIFA rankings, here's how World Cup 2026 groups could look.
Click to expand...
Honestly, as a neutral, I'd say that group stage has two matches that I would watch and maybe a further two or three that I might watch if I didn't have anything better to do.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top