World Cup expanded to 48 teams from 2026

[DangerousSausage]

As above. FIFA's mission to completely ruin the World Cup continues.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38565246

On the plus side, we might qualify.

[Chris]

This sounds daft, I've never liked the idea but I suppose I will have to wait and see what its like.

However, despite it allowing more nations to reach the finals - all it will create is a bigger golf for the lesser nations who will become natural whipping boys. Yes we may see a team triumph and do well, yet the more talented teams will always find it an easy route through the finals/knock-out stage.

I fail to see how exactly this will make it better at all.

[DangerousSausage]

The format itself isn't the problem. By moving to 16 groups of three, there will not actually be any more group matches than before - the extra matches are all knockout games, which is certainly preferable to two group stages.

The problem is simply that there are too many teams involved in what is supposed to be an elite tournament. But then FIFA has a vested financial interest in bloating the World Cup ever further.

[liampie]

why fix things that are not broken? i do not like this one bit.

[CliftonMagpie]

I'm giving it a pass thanks, no interest in watching that many games.

It will be a buzz kill! Do they plan to drag it out longer too?