[Football] World Cup 2026 returning to groups of 4 format.

[Badger]

This is a completly ridiculous decison, I can't believe they're adding all these extra ma...

What's that? Toronto is getting extra matches?

Well count me in.

 

[Insel affe]

Money.

more teams, more advertising, more sponsorship, more money…..


money, money, money

 

[Seagull58]

48 teams is ridiculous. I can just about stomach 32 as half go out in the group stage. If they're going to have 48 they might as well have 64 (as they willl in 2030) with 16 groups of 4 and the top 2 going through in each group.
Alternatively, scrap FIFA completely and start a new, ethical world football organisation.

 

[mwrpoole]

Money.

more teams, more advertising, more sponsorship, more money…..


money, money, money

Correct. If I heard correctly FIFA made $7bn from 2022 World Cup, clearly not enough.

 

[Insel affe]

Correct. If I heard correctly FIFA made $7bn from 2022 World Cup, clearly not enough.

At least it is being disturbed fairly amongst.....

The members and their families (allegedly)

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

If the reason for this expansion was about FIFA making money, I could kind of understand it, in a "roll my eyes at the every increasing commercialism of the world" way which I do all the time anyway.

But this isn't about that. It's a power grab. Infantino has got the top FIFA job because he promised the middling countries, mostly in Africa, Central America etc, that he would get them more places in return for their votes. To keep his job after the next election, he has to make good on that promise.

I'm sure the extra money in FIFA coffers will be welcome side benefit as well.

 

[5Ways Gull]

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjZx__o7dv9AhWeSEEAHSjpA_oQvOMEKAB6BAgLEAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.football365.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-cup-2026-to-feature-104-games-include-72-game-sodding-group-stage&usg=AOvVaw3ilMh0KTCMHB8aBb17MRdf

Too much?

I know we missed out in 74 and 78 with the 16 team final format but does a 48 country finals actually dilute the product?

Best World Cup format 24 or 32 teams?

I just cannot belive that they have contrived a situation where it will take 72 game to eliminate just one third of the teams participating? Why not increase it to 64vteams and just go straight into a knockout stage? Which one of the Fs in FIFA stands for F***wits?