At a meeting held in Zurich today – Saturday, 3 May 2003 – the FIFA Executive Committee agreed to raise the number of finalist places at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ from 32 to 36, but only on condition that a match schedule be drawn up that ensured the sporting credibility of the event. A final decision will be passed at the next meeting of the executive in Paris at the end of June 2003. The South American confederation, CONMEBOL, had submitted a request to have the number of slots for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ raised from 32 to 36 at the Executive Committee meeting in Zurich on 6/7 March 2003. http://fifa.com/en/display/mrel,68835.html
Yea, I heard about it this morning, that's cool, It will bring more people who support more teams to the game, I think its a good change.
spanglish Luego de una reunión que se extendió durante más de siete horas, la FIFA se mostró a favor de la propuesta realizada por la Conmebol, en la cual se amplía el cupo de 32 a 36 seleccionados en la próxima Copa del Mundo a celebrarse en Alemania en 2006. En Junio, el órgano rector del fútbol tomará la decisión final falta una propocision de calendario, para ver si es posible en 40 dias o menos. Ojala no renuncie beckenbaur, molesto por la imposicion de precios por boleta a los alemanes, el apoya la idea en principio.
http://www.peru.com/futbol/AutoNoticias/DetalleNoticia26192.asp Looks like CONMEBOL will have 5 spots in 2006? But, Brasil will have to qualify, no more defending champion getting an automatic spot anymore. In reality we can just about always give one to Argentina and Brasil. Thus, we have eight nations fighting for 3 spots, no? Those are not bad odds in reality. Agree?
Re: spanglish En una reunión extraordinaria, la FIFA decidirá el 29 de junio sobre el pedido de confederación sudamericana CONMEBOL de aumentar la cantidad de equipos a 36. http://www.peru.com/futbol/AutoNoticias/DetalleNoticia26194.asp Hey, that's my birthday! Dia San Pedro y San Pablo.
Do you really believe this is a good thing? 36 teams is TERRIBLE for the World Cup! How does this benefit South America long-term? I agree that South America should have at least another ½ slot, but expanding the pool to 36 is not the right way to fix this. Does anyone remember what happened after the slots were originally announced for Korea/Japan '02? Asia was furious that they were given only 3½ slots (and two were going to the two hosts). With only 1½ for the rest of Asia to play for, they decided they would boycott the World Cup unless they got more. Europe was nice and gave them a slot. (IMO, the World Cup would have been better if Asia did boycott--No China or Saudi Arabia). Really, that is what South America should do. Conmebol should threaten to boycott unless they get another slot. Maybe Asia will give back their ½ slot to South America. Expanding the number of teams to 36 screws up the tournament for everyone.
Please also remember: the more teams in the world cup, the less likely it will be in South America any time soon.
??? Makes no sense. The world cup will be in South America in 2014. Brasil is the most likely candidate.
I realize that FIFA said the cup would be held in South America in 2014, but why does that mean they won't change their mind? That is a long time from now and Fifa changes its mind all the time. They said they would have a final decision on 36 this past weekend, but they have now postponed a final decision until June. Read the last sentence of their press report regarding South America getting the World Cup--it seems like they are leaving the back door open. "Zurich, 7 March 2003 -The FIFA World Cup will head to South America in 2014 following a decision taken by the FIFA Executive Committee, chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter, on the second day of its meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich. This decision fulfilled the long-time wish of CONMEBOL to see the competition return to South America for the first time since Argentina in 1978, and advocates the recommendation of the FIFA Strategic Study Committee. In view of this decision, the executive felt that further discussions regarding the future rotation of the hosting of the FIFA World Cup could provisionally be put on ice." [from Fifa's web site] Once the world cup expands to 36 teams, it becomes a slippery slope where more teams are added. The more teams in the world cup, the less likely it is that many countries can EVER host the World Cup (not to mention spoiling the competition). BTW, I believe Brazil is capable of hosting a WC--perhaps even with 40 teams. However, I had not been aware that the rest of South America was cool with that--especially considering they have almost 11 years to change their mind.
The whole point of giving it to Brazil right now is so Brazil can get there ************ together and there be no chance that FIFA will move the cup to another confederation.
The only problem I see with 36 teams is that it makes it easier to qualify for the World Cup, but harder to get past the first round. Only 16 of the 36, unless they change the 2nd round format.
Todo lo que se dice es contra de aumentar a 36 equipos, la FIFA no está de acuerdo todavía con eso y NO tiene nada que ver con Sur America pues lo mismo va para cualquier otro pais, la FIFA dice que para todos es costoso. Ademas, de realizarse esto, por el hecho de tener apenas cuatro equipos mas no veo cual sea el conflicto para no realizarlo en Sur America ¿Que te crees tu? Sur America puede organizar un Mundial asi como lo puede realizar otros continentes.
Pues no para todos, yo si estoy de acuerdo con que aumenten a 36 en los Mundiales, y que aumenten el tiempo de duración. Claro que esto tiene que cambiar el hecho de pasar a octavos despues de la primera fase, tendría que venir otra fase despues para clasificar a octavos. Para mi el Mundial es muy radical, miren como en la Champions tienen todos dos chances para clasificar, en un Mundial si no lo haces bien la primera vez adiós. A mi no me importaría si la competencia se alargara un poquito y los equipos tubieran dos chances para seguir.
Tiburón Blanco, How is Uruguay going to host the World Cup in 2030 with 40 countries? CONMEBOL doesn't seem to know it is opening Pandora's Box. It is trying to save one tree, unaware that the rest of the forest is burning.