2026 World Cup to have 48 teams, 3 16 team groups?

Discussion in 'Soccer Board' started by Poe Dameron, Dec 25, 2016.

  1. Poe Dameron

    Poe Dameron The best fucking pilot in the galaxy
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    World Cup expansion to 48 teams could net FIFA extra $640M
    Organization's analysis recommends 3 groups of 16 as preferred format
    The Associated Press Posted: Dec 23, 2016 3:52 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 23, 2016 3:52 PM ET

    The best and most profitable way to expand the World Cup is a 48-team tournament of 16 three-team groups, according to FIFA's in-house research which accepts the current 32-nation format produces the highest quality soccer.

    The preferred format announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino this month rates highest in a 64-page analysis of five options for the 2026 World Cup, the first when change can be made.

    FIFA concludes "the 48-team (16x3) format would appear to offer the most tangible and intangible value," in the document seen by The Associated Press.

    With extra knockout games in a new Round of 32, the format of 80 matches — each in an exclusive time slot over 32 days — appeals to broadcasters and sponsors and would raise income, FIFA suggested.

    Kickoffs in prime time
    FIFA also wants to please fans and broadcasters in "major markets" by creative scheduling of kickoffs in their prime time back home rather than in the host nation.

    Revenue could rise almost 20 per cent to $6.5 billion, using the projected $5.5 billion income from the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a base comparison. Though organizing costs would also project to rise, from around $2 billion to $2.3 billion, the potential profit would increase by $640 million, the research said.

    Still, FIFA cautions ahead of its ruling Council's planned Jan. 10 vote in Zurich that "it should not be a financial decision"

    "Instead, the goal of expanding the FIFA World Cup is to further advance the vision to promote the game of football, protect its integrity and bring the game to all," the document noted.

    However, it does not specify a detail that UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin asked for — how the 16 extra places would be shared among six continental confederations. UEFA now has 13 qualifying slots and could be in line for 15 in a political process set to best reward Africa and Asia.

    FIFA acknowledges that quality of play could drop by adding 16 more of its 211 member federations.

    The "absolute quality" of soccer — with high-ranked teams playing each other most often — is achieved by the 32-team format being used in Russia and at the 2022 event in Qatar. FIFA said it made 10,000 tournament simulations to reach that conclusion.

    Keeping the 32-team format is one option but FIFA's research shows clear intent to change that was promised during Infantino's election. He campaigned for a 40-team tournament that would give Europe a new quota of 14.

    '16x3' most popular option
    Infantino now points to "16x3" being the most popular option.

    "The big, big, big majority is in favour of the 48 teams with the 16 groups of three," the FIFA leader said after a Dec. 7 meeting of some members in Singapore.

    Infantino previously promoted 48 teams with an opening playoff round involving 32. That idea failed to persuade FIFA members and commercial partners who want more certainty, less short-notice travel for fans, and a minimum of two matches per team.

    Expansion for the first time since 1998 is "viable without major concessions on the sporting aspects of the tournament," FIFA insisted.

    The biggest change a 16x3 format could force is penalty shootouts after drawn group games to ensure there is a 'winner.' That radical change to soccer rules, first reported by the AP, would help stop teams conspiring to arrange a favourable result in the final group game.

    FIFA has sent the research document to Council members and member federations, who want more World Cup slots to help encourage young players and sponsors at home.
     
  2. NineteenNine

    NineteenNine Divers are, in fact, wankers. It's science.
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    Oh fuck that.
     
  3. NineteenNine

    NineteenNine Divers are, in fact, wankers. It's science.
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    Also shitty headline. Headline says 3 16-team groups and the article says 16 3-team groups.
     
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  4. miles

    miles All I know is my gut says, maybe
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    Yeah definitely fuck that
     
  5. triceratops

    triceratops Tribe Of Dan
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    I like playing the games closer to the teams time zone.

    The rest is rubbish. You play 2 games and then 2 out of 3 teams advance. No thanks.
     
  6. IAHusk

    IAHusk E Pluribus Anus
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    So this is officially happening now.

     
  7. snowfx2

    snowfx2 Well-Known Member
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    Goddamit, current format is perfect basically.

    And makes WCQ for U.S. pretty meaningless unless we merge with CONMEBOL for it. But we probably won't be involved in 2026 WCQ.

    And they might as well just go straight to 64 teams. It will eventually be that number anyways and makes it 4 teams per group.
     
    #7 snowfx2, Jan 10, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2017
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  8. ChileanNole

    ChileanNole Soccer Expert
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    Well if it means an easier path for Chile, I'm for it. Still gotta see who the matches and seeding will work out.
     
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  9. JC

    JC I yell sometimes when I watch sports
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    Not a fan at all of that

    Less is more
     
  10. Corky Bucek

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  11. Corky Bucek

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    Only 2 group games is fucking stupid.
     
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  12. NineteenNine

    NineteenNine Divers are, in fact, wankers. It's science.
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    It's all fucking stupid.
     
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  13. triceratops

    triceratops Tribe Of Dan
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    I for one and excited for Germany - Lebanon and Spain versus St Kittts & Nevis in one of 2 Group play games where 2 out of 3 teams advance.
     
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  14. snowfx2

    snowfx2 Well-Known Member
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    And as of now, looks like CONCACAF would get 6.5 spots and CONMEBOL would get 6 spots lol.

    Which means CONCACAF would really get 7.5 spots for 2026 because of hosting.
     
  15. The Goat

    The Goat Well-Known Member
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    What a joke. Just water the pool down some more with countries that don't deserve to be there and make qualifying an even bigger joke for some.
     
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  16. MODEVIL

    MODEVIL Well-Known Member
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    [​IMG]

    Sepp got his "Ocean's 11" a spot in the world cup.
     
  17. Principal McVicker

    Principal McVicker Not so New Member
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    Torn. It's a damn dumb move in order to compete with the Champions League and I guarantee their will be collusion during games. But the Euros expanded this year and outside of maybe Ukraine, noone looked out of place.
     
  18. triceratops

    triceratops Tribe Of Dan
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    Who won in PK to advance out of the Group of Death?
     
  19. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    They said on SiriusXM FC this morning that knockout round games will be seeded like the NCAA tournament, which could be fun.
     
  20. The Banks

    The Banks TMB's Alaskan
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    How would they determine the order? FIFA ranking? Goal differential? Gonna see Germany run it up on Somalia in group stage so they can get a higher seed than Brazil who just beat Tonga 15-1?
     
  21. triceratops

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    Agree.

    Seeding is cool, but it needs to be done prior to the Tournament. FIFA rankings are not that good though.
     
  22. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    FIFA ranking
     
  23. The Banks

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    Going to be so much collusion in the last game of the group stage.
     
  24. Principal McVicker

    Principal McVicker Not so New Member
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    [​IMG]

    What the World Cup 2014 would have looked like with the new groups
     
  25. MODEVIL

    MODEVIL Well-Known Member
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    I have England third and group C and Mexico third in Group P. Otherwise, not super competitive.

     
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  26. Andy Reocho

    Andy Reocho Please don't get lost in the sauce
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    This is going to be such a shit show. Why in the world do Africa and Asia deserve to get that many teams?



     
  27. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    You get what you pay for.
     
  28. MODEVIL

    MODEVIL Well-Known Member
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    There are only 12 countries in South America. Lots more in Asia and Africa so they want to keep the voters happy. Dumb though, I agree.
     
  29. ChileanNole

    ChileanNole Soccer Expert
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    South America with 6!?!?! FUCK YOU FIFA
     
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  30. ChileanNole

    ChileanNole Soccer Expert
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    Should be 7.5 for South America so really 8. Take one each from Africa and Asia or make the 0.5 with Concacaf.
     
  31. Corky Bucek

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    Details on a mini tourney for the last two spots:

    Here’s what they are proposing, with the CONCACAF region potentially having its number of direct slots increased from to six, while Europe will be increased from 13 to 16. Plus, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has also suggested a six-team tournament in 2025 to decide the final two spots in the World Cup.

    • AFC (Asia): 8 direct slots
    • CAF (Africa): 9 direct slots
    • CONCACAF (North & Central America): 6 direct slots
    • CONMEBOL (South America): 6 direct slots
    • OFC (Oceanic): 1 direct slot
    • UEFA (Europe): 16 direct slots
    There is also more information below from FIFA on how that mini-tournament would work in 2025 as a test event ahead of the World Cup.

    The above allocation accounts for 46 of the 48 participating teams. The proposal reviewed by the Bureau of the Council includes a play-off tournament involving six teams to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths:

    • One team per confederation with the exception of UEFA + one additional team from the confederation of the host country;
    • Two teams to be seeded based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The seeded teams will play for a FIFA World Cup berth against the winners of the first two knockout games involving the four unseeded teams;
    • Tournament to be played in the host country(ies) and to be used as a test event for the FIFA World Cup;
    • Existing play-off window of November 2025 suggested as tentative date for the 2026 edition.

    http://soccer.nbcsports.com/2017/03/30/fifas-plan-for-48-team-world-cup-6-slots-for-concacaf/
     
  32. Cousin Eddie

    Cousin Eddie Lookin for the place called Lee Ho Fook's
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    I think using FIFA ranking to seed the new round of 32 is real dumb. 2 group games per team is even dumber.
     
  33. JC

    JC I yell sometimes when I watch sports
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    Nothing like ruining the world's best tournament format
     
  34. Thoros of Beer

    Thoros of Beer Academy Award-Winning Actor, Tim Allen
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    I'm on board for more knockout round games. Some of the last group stage games were pointless.
     
  35. Gunners

    Gunners Nicking a living
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    Sucks for teams to get left out but at least the qualifiers will continue to be must watch sports, have become addicted to it. European qualifying is bullshit and this just makes it worse.
     
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  36. Ace Boogie

    Ace Boogie Top Lad
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    Just go straight NCAA tournament style IMO, fuck this shit.
     
  37. snowfx2

    snowfx2 Well-Known Member
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  38. elfrid

    elfrid he thinks the carpet pissers did this?
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    any idea what the announcement is?
     
  39. snowfx2

    snowfx2 Well-Known Member
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    Joint bid to host the 2026 WC, which will be a lock to win the FIFA vote.
     
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  40. JGator1

    JGator1 I'm the Michael Jordan of the industry
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    so stupid, fuck adding more teams and fuck sharing hosting with Mexico and Canada
     
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  41. snowfx2

    snowfx2 Well-Known Member
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    With cheeto in the WH, it's probably necessary that we have a joint bid sadly.
     
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  42. elfrid

    elfrid he thinks the carpet pissers did this?
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    does/will canada even have grass fields?
     
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  43. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    Nice we might actually participate in a world cup in my life time.
     
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  44. Corky Bucek

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    You guys will still probably have to qualify IMO
     
  45. Andy Reocho

    Andy Reocho Please don't get lost in the sauce
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    I have to think that a majority of the tournament would take place in the US. Is there any sort of idea on the full list of cities? I'd imagine Toronto and Montreal are locks for Canada, and obviously Mexico City and Tijuana(? - I don't know much on the infrastructure in Mexico)
     
  46. snowfx2

    snowfx2 Well-Known Member
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    Mexico would probably be Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and maybe another in Mexico City or some place like Torreon, Tijuana, or Puebla.

    I could see Tijuana because it also throws a bone to San Diego residents.

    Screw Mexico on this joint bid though. They'd basically be co-hosts anyways if it was just the U.S. hosting and they've already hosted in '70 and '86. But, I understand the politics behind this due to FIFA's greed.
     
    #48 snowfx2, Apr 8, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2017
  47. Sam Elliott

    Sam Elliott Job title: Assistant Bouncer at the Double Deuce
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    If this is the only way the US gets a WC in the next 20 years I'm fine with it. Better than nothing....

    That said the US needs to host at least 50% of the group games and more than 30% of the knock out round. I get the feeling, however, the US will probably give up the two semifinals to Mexico and Canada to host the final.
     
  48. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Fuck this co hosting bullshit.
     
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