Expansion of World Cup teams to 48 teams- Discussion & Opinions

There is high chance FIFA expands the number of World Cup (WC) teams to 48 which means that WC 2022 will be the last WC with 32 teams. The format of the WC with 48 teams is 16 groups of three teams where two teams advance per group and then knock out stage. So there will be 80 matches in the tournament which is 16 matches more than WC with 32 teams. If this expansion happens, Asia will have around 8 WC spots based on what I heard. There have been many reactions to this plan. For example, Mourinho and Maradona are in favor of this decision but Joachim Low and Pep Guardiola are against it. IMO here are some pros and cons:

Pros:

Gives a good chance to some nations to play at the WC which brings joy and excitement to their nation and football community

Economical benefit for some nations and as a result, more investment in infrastructure and youth football

Higher chance to pass the group stage for some nations such as Asian teams

Cons:

May lowers the prestige of the tournament

Dilutes the quality of the football

All teams cannot play the last match of the group stage at the same time (Whoever plays its second match earlier may be in disadvantage)

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*What do you guys think? Do you agree with expansion of the WC teams to 48 or disagree? Discuss your reasons if you like.

 

First of all, I should say that overall I am in favor of world cup expansion.

This is my main problem but most world cup tournaments can be co-hosted from 2026.

My other problem is that whether they are going to distribute the 48 spots correctly or not. The football quality of each continent should be more important than the number of countries each continent has or the size of continent. For example, If they give 8-10 spots to the continents like Asia and Concacaf, the quality of world cup will suffer. I read in the Iranian media yesterday that FIFA will determine the WC spots of each continent for WC 2026 in May 08,2017. I go with the following , and IMO It is the most fair one:

Europe: 20 (There are still many good teams such as Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, etc that usually do not make the WC. So based on the rumors, 16 spots will be for Europe which is unfair in my opinion and thankfully It was just rumor. They deserve more than that something like 20)

Asia: 7 (IMO more or less than 7 will be unfair. More than 7 lowers the quality of the football in the world cup and most 2nd/3rd tier Asian football countries do not even try to improve the standard and quality of their football. Less than 7 makes it unfair for WC with 48 teams and It makes it close to impossible for many 2nd/3rd tier teams to compete with best 5-6 teams of the continent. 7 is perfect and it motivates lower teams to make the standard and quality of their football at least close to the likes of Uzbekistan, UAE, etc if they cannot compete with the likes of Australia, Japan, etc.

The following link says why expansion of WC is good for Asia and it says some of the reasons that I am in favor of WC expansion:

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-but-australian-benefits-will-become-apparent

I took the following four paragraphs from the above link:

"In 2015, in a hotel restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was talking qualification. In Asia, he said, there are three countries with a credit card that produces an automatic World Cup spot with just a simple swipe: Japan, South Korea and Australia. His Iran were always competing with Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and perhaps North Korea and United Arab Emirates for the fourth and last automatic berth. And the other near-40 nations of Asia? The former Real Madrid coach just shrugged."

"While the Portuguese may have intended to stress his own achievements with Iran, he was stating a simple truth. With South Korea, Japan and the Socceroos usually making it, that leaves one spot for the other 43 - for the vast majority in the world’s biggest continent. The dream is as distant as relations between Sepp Blatter and Gianni Infantino. Talk to heads of various federations around Asia and hear the variety of “Project 2022s”, it is almost cruel to point out that 15 other nations have similar grandiose plans and one, perhaps, will achieve it."

"But not for much longer. Having four automatic spots gives perhaps eight or nine a realistic chance (Added sentence: I hope for 7 World Cup spots for Asia) but an improved quota of eight really opens it up. Even if the big four (the three credit card holders and Iran) have their spots, that leaves three (I changed four to three) for the rest in a much more open field. It gives eight or so a genuine opportunity, the same number an outside chance, and more still a dream."

"Take Thailand. The country is doing all the right things: investing in the league, grassroots, producing decent players and aiming for as much overseas experience as possible but the World Cup is still some years away, if at all. Expansion brings the competition firmly within touching distance and if Thailand can do it, there is huge motivation lower down the rankings. Having to compete with South Korea, Australia and Japan is not an option for many in the short to medium term but fighting it out with Jordan for the last spot? That are plenty who would fancy their chances."

A few months after the last Asian Cup, CQ had an interview with Khabar Varzeshi newspaper. Australians may start to dislike him for this interview. He said before 2006, Asia had 4.5 WC spots. In 2006, Australia join to Asia and Asia still have 4.5 WC spots. When Australia joined Aisa, one of the WC spots was taken away from Asia automatically. Australia joined Asia, that is great but they should have added 1 more WC spot to Asia or at least made the AFC/OFC one continent for WC Qualifiers. In that case, the winner of OFC joins to the final round of Asia WC qualifiers and the fifth team of Asia does not have to compete with Fifth team of Conmebol, etc. for qualification to the WC. So IMO 4.5 spots for Asia is not enough.

Conmebol: 6.5 (There are only 10 nations. Giving more spots to them make the top teams such as Brazil and Argentina unmotivated for qualifiers and the football quality of qualifiers in this continent drops significantly)

Concacaf: 5.5

Africa: 8 (There are still some decent teams that usually do not make the WC such as Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Mali, etc. They deserve 8 spots. IMO 8 spots is the most fair one for Africa. )

Oceania: 1

Twelve 4-team groups, with the top two from each group advancing along with the best eight third place teams is another option for the WC with 48 teams but the problem is that some teams have to play 8 matches to become champions, and you need to extend the whole tournament in a couple of weeks. Anyway it seems that 16 3-team groups is the best option.

 

I hope you read my last comment completely. I explained why I think this world cup expansion is a right decision. Do not forget that the WC Qualifiers in Asia is currently boring for many 2nd/3rd tier teams and if you read the bolded parts of my last comment you see the reasons.

I added the unsure symbol and the bolded sentence. Note that the whole paragraph with the bolded sentence is completely what CQ said in his interview with Khabar varzeshi newspaper a few months after the last Asian Cup not me.

 

Do not forget that there will be seeding for WC 2026 tournament before draw like all other world cups. For WC 2026, we probably have AFC, Concacaf, and Oceania teams may be with exception of Mexico in Pot 3 like previous world cups. Except those teams, around three lowest FIFA ranking teams will be in Pot 3 and most of those 3 teams may be African teams. Pot 2 consists Conembol, most Africans, and some European teams. Pot 1 probably consists most Conmebol teams and the rest of European teams. So it is not that bad. I think It will be ok.

I like what Jose Mourinho said. He said:

"I prefer groups of three. Two matches and then through to the knockout stages or go home. This way, the two group matches are crucial, then the knockout stage is next which brings even more emotion.

"Teams with less potential and experience will probably play two good matches and go home. But they would do so having improved and gained experience on the pitch, which would be added to the economic rewards of appearing at the finals - including further investment in their footballing infrastructure.

"The expansion means that the World Cup will be even more of an incredible social event. More countries, more investment in different countries in infrastructure, in youth football.

"More nations taking part means more passion, more happiness, more enthusiasm. More countries means more Africans, Asians, Americans together.

"Football is developed in the clubs, so we can't expect football to explode in terms of quality at a World Cup. The World Cup is a social event and football can't relinquish this opportunity to further reflect fans' passion."

http://www.goal.com/en/news/468/int...on-more-happiness-more-enthusiasm-mourinho-in