[Football] Fifa will consider expanding World Cup to 64 teams for 2030 tournament

[Austrian Gull]

Yep. The euros just had a groups of 4 didn't it?

That's right. Big countries always missed out on qualifying. I remember France 84 when no home nations qualified - hardly any games were shown on British TV. Unbelievable when you think about saturation TV coverage now.

 

[Eeyore]

Not really perfect, is it.

The group stages are a bit of a bore, I wonder if they plan to put it straight to a knock out - which would be more entertaining.

Plus more countries are represented, again, more entertaining.

I'm all for this - more countries should be represented at the World Cup finals in a way to make it more entertaining

And you want 64 teams ?

 

[Eeyore]

That's right. Big countries always missed out on qualifying. I remember France 84 when no home nations qualified - hardly any games were shown on British TV. Unbelievable when you think about saturation TV coverage now.

Is that right ? I thought they were all shown, I just didn't bother watching them.

 

[Mustafa II]

And you want 64 teams ?

Depends how they do - I'd be all for an FA Cup knockout style competition. That would be absolute quality.

 

[Mustafa II]

I don't agree with the new Champions League format myself. And having a team finish in 24th place out of 32 and still reach a play off is not a just reward. I didn't start watching this year till the final round of matches.

The Conference League is only worth watching from the Quarter Finals and only worthwhile cos Brighton might get in it.

I'd be more than happy to have the Cup Winners Cup back.

64 teams in a World Cup again means it's not a worthy watch until the third round, unless there are some odd pairings thrown up.

You're definitely looking at this from an England/Brighton perspective.

Like you say, the Conference League would be quality if/when we're in it... and the same applies to all the other clubs around Europe who never usually get the chance.

Countries all around the world dream about playing at the World Cup... why not let them have a go, more often.

 

[Eeyore]

Depends how they do - I'd be all for an FA Cup knockout style competition. That would be absolute quality.

It would involve groups and an extra round. Currently there are 63 matches. A knockout would be the same amount, but with too much jeopardy.

 

[Badger]

One of the worst versions of FIFA.

 

[Austrian Gull]

Is that right ? I thought they were all shown, I just didn't bother watching them.

Spain v West Germany last group game and the final were the only games shown live. BBC and ITV didn't think people would be interested.

The brilliant semi-final between France and Portugal with Jon Motson's superb commentary was only shown as highlights!

To get back on topic, 32 countries should be the maximum. I think we'll see a bloated tournament next year.

 

[stewart12]

Wonder what the make up would be from each continent because there's a danger of basically giving the whole of South America automatic qualification

Could be something like

Europe: 24
South America: 9
North America: 9
Asia: 9
Africa: 9
Oceania: 3

Then 1 inter- confederational play off spot. Even then having 9/10 teams from South America qualifying makes that process a bit pointless. The 3rd and probably even the 2nd Oceania team are going to be awful as are the 9th teams from North America and Asia

 

[studio150]

This proposal may get some traction, if it means that the top nations don't have to qualify.

So perhaps the 32 top ranked nations all automatically qualify for the finals.

The rest of the world play qualifying rounds to get 32 other nations into the finals.

The countries that had to qualify are split into 8 groups where the winner of each group then qualify for the round 2 groups, where the 32 top ranked nations are joined by the 8 group winners, and are placed into 8 groups of 5, then top 2 from each ground go into round of 16 and straight knock out to final.

But no doubt FIFA will want to make the tournament as long as possible, with as many games as possible, to keep the gravy train running.

 

[highflyer]

FiFA: 'we are committed to diversity and sustainability'

Also FIFA: 'Lets hold a world cup in Saudi Arabia and double the carbon footprint of the tournament by flying 64 teams and their supporters around the world whilst simultaneously making the actual event significantly worse.

Way to go.

Greedy f*ckwits

I'm not a fan btw.

 

[Chicken Run]

I’m assuming we are all boycotting the next two world cups?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Will there be a need for qualification for the bigger nations?

 

[GT49er]

You really are cynical bastards averse to any kind of change.

Generally speaking, the changes made by the footballing bodies are positive.

New Champions League format

.......................not as bad as it first looked.

Introducing Conference League

..................the Inter Cities Cup, but with group stages

Scrapping FA Cup replays

.......great if you're a 'big' club playing in Europe and lots of trans-world lucrative friendlies; great if you don't want to have to play twice to eliminate some stubborn minnows that won't lie down easily.

Scrapping Cup Winners' Cup

................... now that one was seriously fun! Cup winners only, be they Welsh or Italian.

Why not have 64 teams? As long as they get the format right, sounds like a great idea.

The right format? Automatic places, no qualification for 50 odd 'big' countries, leave a dozen (no more) places for the little countries to squabble over via an exhausting 4 year qualification campaign.

What's the point in qualifying round you say? Well, we can't let ABSOLUTE minnows like Faroe Islands or Gibraltar rock up... but I think it would be great to see more of the Panamas, Malis or North Koreas of this world have a go.

All tickety-boo then.