http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/story/3033193/man-uniteds-jose-mourinho-totally-in-favour-of-48-team-world-cup

Starting in 2026


BOO THIS CRAP

The extra teams should all be from Europe or South America. Better not give any additional to our region or Oceania...or whatever.

It will really take any excitement out of qualifying, that's for sure. No more drama in Europe or south America (or concacaf) for that matter. Can't wait to see the "epic" playoff battle of new Zealand and Finland for spot 48.

can we just skip the qatar cup?

human rights violations
100+
slave labor
stadiums that look like vaginas
human rights violations
winter world cup
slave labor
48 teams


GTFO fifa

Qatar is in 2022
Front runner for 2026 is US

There have been rumors of the US, Mexico, and Canada teaming up to host a massive North American super World Cup in 2026. If it really will be 48 teams, a 3 country World Cup actually is pretty feasible.

3 Canadian stadiums (Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal)
2 or 3 Mexican stadiums ( Including Azteca obviously)
About 10 American stadiums
Final at the Rose Bowl

Could potentially be amazing. I don't want 48 teams either, but that means more money for FIFA, so it'll probably happen.

48 teams with 16 groups of 3. Thats just idiotic. You only get two guaranteed games rather than 3, so one bad game is going to even more difficult to come back from. And more importantly that means teams will know needed outcomes for their last game as groups cannot have everyone play together at the end. With groups of 3 someone has to play the first two of the set and two teams will get to play last together. That opens the door for some serious collusion at the end. And depending on who plays when you get very unequal amounts of rest between groups and knockout stages.

If they want 48 teams the would be better off with 12 groups of 4. That removes the messy group stuff. It makes it messy to get the knockout going though. Top 2 in each group is 24 teams. Best 8 get byes and remaining 16 play knockout first would work. Knowing FIFA they will probably take top two in each group and next best 8 of the 3rd place teams to get to 32 and then you have a 32 team knockout. Thats a whole extra round though and it makes the whole tourney an extra week longer.

If you're like the USA or Mexico world ranking is gonna be important because you could get really, really ****ed when you're below 16 and you get the wrong african/asian team from pot C

Complete garbage

This is a transparent pay off to Asia, Africa, and Oceania which has more federations and thus voting power but not actual quality. I'd rather watch a 24-team World Cup only including UEFA and the Americas.

This will only dilute to the quality of the teams in the cup and qualifying is literally useless for almost everywhere outside of Europe and South America. I don't want more crap teams like Trinidad, Malaysia, or China. The only teams to include are the respectable European and South American sides missing the cut.

I can't believe this is going to actually happen.

I would pay $$ to watch North Korea v South Korea.