Thetownend.com

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/10/fifa-vote-expand-world-cup-48-teams-from-2026

So FIFA have voted in favour of a 48 team World Cup. 16 groups of 3 teams. 80 games in total (currently 64). What could possibly go wrong?

Quote: "Infantino has also suggested that penalty shootouts be brought in to settle the results of all drawn games, thereby minimising the risk of teams colluding in their final group games to eliminate others from the tournament."

I hear chants of "Are you Blatter in disguise!!!"

It is what it is.

Scotland still wont qualify

Sorry. FIFA are turning the competition into a joke.

essentially its all about the money.

Another week of hyperbole, and tedium to look forward to..

I don't hate this as some seem to. The WC seemed about the right size as it was, but more teams is so much better than the farcical situation Cricket have where they have fewer teams and a contrived two group stage system to make sure they get the maximum possible number of games featuring the teams that draw the biggest TV audiences.

FIFA have plenty of entries in their hall of shame, but they've expanded the game far better than the governing bodies of most other sports. Not quite as well as they could have done if they'd not just trousered most of the funding though.

More importantly how are we going to find enough people prepared to sign up to the stunners competition?

Agree to an extent, but I'm not sure how adding 16 minnows to the first round adds value to the competition as a sporting spectacle.

Well some of them might beat England for a start...

More seriously, most will get battered but it only takes a surprise result somewhere to trigger something in a country. If China or India or another huge population, small footballing interest nation qualify you can see the potential there for football to take hold in those countries beyond just watching the Premiership.

If I'm honest, international footy is all a bit 'meh' for me. Take away seeding and it might make the group stage a bit spicier.

I quite like the idea.

And me, dont get the outrage myself

I'd prefer the idea if they extended the tournament as well, too many simultaneous kick offs would suck

The Panini album will be enormous.

They'll have to give away the stickers and just sell the pages..