What if the World Cup had Size Divisions?

[woodlands]

What if, like age groups, or weight divisions, they divided the World Cup competition into country sizes? So there would be a small countries division, a medium-sized countries division, and a large countries division. So while maybe Italy and France would battle for the "large countries" world cup...while maybe Jamaica and Northern Ireland would battle to the death for "small countries" world cup?

Since there are about 200 nations in FIFA, if we take the smallest 1/3, that cuts off right around a top of 4 million in population. So that could be the "small group". And that would include likely contenders such as tiny powerhouses of Bosnia (#28 FIFA ranking in the world right now), Northern Ireland (#29), Uruguay (#30), Panama (#52), Macedonia (#61), Jamaica (#68), Abania (#69), and Trinidad & Tobago (#73). That could be a fun tournament! There would be a great mix of mighty little nations from Europe, the Caribbean, and South America all in contention.

For the "medium-sized group", populations between 4 million and 15 million would roughly be the middle 1/3. This division would have contenders like Portugal (#6), Czech Republic (#10), Croatia (#11), Greece (#15), Sweden (#17), Serbia (#22), Scotland (#23), Switzerland (#25), Denmark (#27), and Bulgaria (#33). This could be great for those medium-sized European countries with incredible talent, but that can never seem to get past the likes of Italy and France. And there would be some decent competition from several continents around the rest of the world with the likes of Israel (#34), Paraguay (#37), Senegal (#43), Ecuador (#44), Tunisia (#45), and Costa Rica (#46) all being potential candidates.

For the "large countries group", it would be ones over 15 million: you'd have 8 of the current top 10: Italy (#1), France (#2), Brazil (#3), Germany (#4), Argentina (#5), Spain (#7), England (#8), and Holland (#9). So this would most likely resemble the traditional world cup winners.

[Goal_Crazy]

Its a good thought, but I personally don't like the idea. Being a Portugal supporter myself, I don't want to see them compete for a second teir world cup when they are more then capable enough to compete with the larger countires regardless of their size. This idea would need a special team clause where smaller country teams with alot of talent (aka Portugal) or say teams within the top 20 or so in the fifa ranking would be grouped with the big boys.

[woodlands]

Its a good thought, but I personally don't like the idea. Being a Portugal supporter myself, I don't want to see them compete for a second teir world cup when they are more then capable enough to compete with the larger countires regardless of their size. This idea would need a special team clause where smaller country teams with alot of talent (aka Portugal) or say teams within the top 20 or so in the fifa ranking would be grouped with the big boys.

Well any country could certainly be given the option to "play up a weight class". But not play in a lower division.

[jerrito]

What I don't like about this sort of plan is that it would lessen the likelihood (if not eliminate it) of a minnow beating a giant. One of the great things about football and sports in general is watching a "lesser" team pull off the incredible feat of beating a superpower on the pitch, or going farther in the World Cup than they have before. And I think that those smaller nations relish the chance of playing and perhaps beating an Italy, Germany, Brazil or France. Greece won the Euro, so anything can happen.

Also, I can't help but think that athletes playing in the medium and small divisions would feel as if they had won a lesser competition because of the diluted fields, and the comparatively lower level of play.

[woodlands]

Also, I can't help but think that athletes playing in the medium and small divisions would feel as if they had won a lesser competition because of the diluted fields, and the comparatively lower level of play.

I guess you're right in that, while people are more likely to know the Heavyweight World Champion in boxing, people are much less likely to know the Middleweight or Welterweight champions. But remember an ambitious team can always play up a class.

Advantages:

More countries could participate. Instead of 32 teams participating, there could be 64 or 96. So great more soccer countries like Canada who don't qualify would get to participate.
More countries could win. There have just been 7 nations who have won it. And 1/2 of the championships have gone to Italy and Brazil. And 2/3 have gone to Italy, Brazil, and Germany.
More equitable distribution of winners. And all of the winners (except Uruguay who won the first in 1930 in their home country) have been from among the wealthiest and most populous nations on earth.Disadvantages:

Dilution of meaning. With more winners, it would be harder to keep track of all of them. Like in boxing, where there are multiple weight classes, it's harder to keep track of them all.
Increased expenses. Holding a tournament for 32 teams is cheaper than holding a set of tournaments with 64 or even 96 teams.Maybe a compromise would be just to have 2 divisions: a large one and a small one. So there would be the "Traditional World Cup" and a "Mini Word Cup". The traditional one would be open to EVERYONE; the smaller one just to the lower half of nations population-wise, or currently less than about 6 million people. Perhaps the smaller cup could be held every 8 years, or every 4 years but on different years as the traditional World Cup. And maybe instead of 32 teams, the Mini World Cup could start with just 16 teams until it built up interest.

Countries currently in the bottom half of the world population-wise include such great soccer nations as Croatia (#11), Scotland (#23), Denmark (#27), Bosnia (#28), Northern Ireland (#29), Uruguay (#30), Norway (#36), Ireland (#38), Slovakia (#40), Finland (#42), Costa Rica (#46), and Panama (#52).

[El_Bulla]

hope this never happens

[psveindhoven]

I'd prefer a lower class World Cup with 32 countries that couldn't qualify for the World Cup. This could be held in another country, like China, Canada or Australia for example. It can be a good tournament, like UEFA Cup, with countries like Uruguay, Algeria, Belgium, Scotland, Canada, China, Finland, Greece, Russia, Guinea, Zambia, Peru and Romania for example.

[NHRef]

If we went this route you would no longer have a "world champion" you would have several and it would diminish the effect.

[soczoo]

If we went this route you would no longer have a "world champion" you would have several and it would diminish the effect.

Agreed. You have to have one "World Cup". Now I think that setting up a worldwide tournament of smaller nations.... the "Copa de Minnows" ;-)... could be fun to watch. Maybe the semis ...

5 mil: Ireland v. Costa Rica; Norway v. Croatia?

4 mil: Jamaica v. Uruguay; Northern Ireland v. Congo in the semis anyone?

[Pony Slaystation 4]

Only thing is that then we couldn't beat the crap out of Spain, Brazil, and England.

[ZeekLTK]

I guess you're right in that, while people are more likely to know the Heavyweight World Champion in boxing, people are much less likely to know the Middleweight or Welterweight champions. But remember an ambitious team can always play up a class.

Advantages:

More countries could participate. Instead of 32 teams participating, there could be 64 or 96. So great more soccer countries like Canada who don't qualify would get to participate.
More countries could win. There have just been 7 nations who have won it. And 1/2 of the championships have gone to Italy and Brazil. And 2/3 have gone to Italy, Brazil, and Germany.
More equitable distribution of winners. And all of the winners (except Uruguay who won the first in 1930 in their home country) have been from among the wealthiest and most populous nations on earth.

For the bolded part:

I think you are confused as to how the World Cup works. Pretty much everyone participates, it's not just the 32 that play in the finals. Every World Cup (at least in modern times) has had nearly 200 nations each.

Canada did participate in the 2006 World Cup. They smacked Belize around twice to the tune of 4-0 each time. Then they played Costa Rica tough twice but ended up losing each. They split against Guatemala, a win and a loss, and they basically eliminated Honduras by achieving a draw against them twice.

Basically, they won 3 games, lost 3, and tied 2. Not a terrible World Cup, but not 1986 either.


Also for your 2nd point. Other counties *can* win. It's not impossible. Hungary, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, and Holland have all reached the championship match (1 win away). Several other nations have reached the semifinals (only 2 wins away) and these include Portugal, South Korea, Turkey, Croatia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Poland, Chile, Soviet Union, Spain, Austria, Yugoslavia, and United States.

[ferx203]

I think that is possible create 4 confederations with 2 divisions.

UEFA: 53 teams
Africa: 53 teams
Asia Pacific: 46 AFC + 11 OFC = 57 teams
Americas: 10 Conmebol + 35 Concacaf = 45 teams
Total FIFA: 208

1º Division
UEFA: 32
Africa: 32
Asia Pacific: 32
Americas: 24

2º Division
UEFA: 21
Africa: 21
Asia Pacific: 25
Americas: 21

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You can play every 4 years like this.

Year 1

1º Division (Qualify to Confederation Championships)
UEFA: 8 groups of 4
Africa: 8 groups of 4
AsiaPac: 8 groups of 4
Americas: 6 groups of 4
Winners and Runners-up qualify to Confederation Championships
Worst 4 teams of every confederation go to Relegation/Promotion Playoffs

2º Division (Promote to 1º Division)
Every confederation decide the system
Best 4 teams of every confederation go to Relegation/Promotion Playoffs


Year 2

Confederation Championships
UEFA: EuroCup, 16 teams
Africa: African Nations Cup, 16 teams
AsiaPac: Asia Pacific Cup, 16 teams
Americas: Copa America, 12 teams

Relegation/Promotion Playoffs
Worst 4 of 1º Division against Best 4 of 2º Division
Winners go to 1º Division
Losers go to 2º Division

Year 3

1º Division (World Cup Qualifiers)
UEFA: 8 groups of 4 -----> Qualify 14 places to World Cup
Africa: 8 groups of 4 ----> Qualify 5 places to World Cup
AsiaPac: 8 groups of 4 --> Qualify 5 places to World Cup
Americas: 6 groups of 4 -> Qualify 8 places to World Cup
Worst 4 teams of every confederation go to Relegation/Promotion Playoffs

2º Division (Promote to 1º Division)
Every confederation decide the system
Best 4 teams of every confederation go to Relegation/Promotion Playoffs

Year 4

World Cup: 32 teams
UEFA: 14 teams
Africa: 5 teams
AsiaPac: 5 teams
Americas: 8 teams

Relegation/Promotion Playoffs
Worst 4 of 1º Division against Best 4 of 2º Division
Winners go to 1º Division
Losers go to 2º Division

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