Debian Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Even more of a potential cock up for us... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34994402 World Cup: Fifa to debate expanding tournament to 40 teams Fifa will debate a proposal to expand the World Cup from 32 teams to 40. The change can be approved by Fifa's executive committee without consent from the 209 member associations, and could come into effect from 2026. The proposal will be discussed later on Thursday in Zurich, where a meeting is taking place focused on reforms of world football's governing body. Earlier, two high-ranking Fifa officials were arrested in the Swiss cityon suspicion of taking bribes. They are alleged to have taken money for selling marketing rights in connection with football tournaments in Latin America, as well as World Cup qualifying matches. The arrests came on the opening day of Fifa's Exco meeting, at which the potential expansion of the World Cup for the first time since 1998 will be discussed. France '98 featured 32 teams, up from the 24 that had qualified for every World Cup since 1982. An additional eight entrants would create an extra 32 matches, which could require the month-long tournament to be extended by a week. The first round of the tournament, which sees teams split into eight groups of four, would also need to be adjusted. The European Championship - to be held in France in June - will include 24 teams, a rise from the 16 to have taken part in every tournament since 1996. "Crucially, the World Cup expansion to 40 teams does not require approval from 209 member associations. It can be passed by executives alone."A 40-team World Cup raises questions over true cultural change within Fifa. They want greater transparency but don't consult stakeholders. "It is a big decision that has implications on several levels. I can hear the sound of a taskforce being assembled." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartanpar Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I doubt many of the extra places will come from Europe unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyshaker Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 TA Specific?! But seriously, awful idea. 32 works perfectly but as everyone wants their slice of the pie it's sadly inevitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Even if Europe got all 8 places I doubt we would qualify Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottincarlisle Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I doubt many of the extra places will come from Europe unfortunately. You would think 2 at the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Sound of things its extra places here and there for Asia, Africa and North America, with Oceania getting a full place, rather than the 1/2 place they get just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 (edited) we still want qualify ya kwunt Edited December 3, 2015 by bonny78 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoodster Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Sound of things its extra places here and there for Asia, Africa and North America, with Oceania getting a full place, rather than the 1/2 place they get just now. More dross, more meaningless games, shame both UEFA and FIFA seem to want to dilute the quality of these tournaments. Mind you if FIFA followed UEFAs lead in making qualification a nearly 50% shot there would be 80 teams in the world cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Fifa could give scotland a bye and we would still it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radian_13 Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 To give oceania a place they'd be as well just give New Zealand a permanent place in every WC from now on. Africa doesn't deserve anymore most of their teams are dross, even their best have been nowhere winning a WC. 32 is a perfect number, don't understand the constant thinking to ruin tournaments by Uefa/Fifa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 To give oceania a place they'd be as well just give New Zealand a permanent place in every WC from now on. Africa doesn't deserve anymore most of their teams are dross, even their best have been nowhere winning a WC. 32 is a perfect number, don't understand the constant thinking to ruin tournaments by Uefa/Fifa Simple answer is tv reason and the money it brings.... Having large tv markets like Canada, India, China, Egypt etc constantly missing out means you have large tv audiences missing out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyDenoon Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 To give oceania a place they'd be as well just give New Zealand a permanent place in every WC from now on. Yup Just like Mexico and USA have got now. It's virtually impossible for them not to qualify these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norsefox Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 (edited) Terrible idea. Europe is the only continent where quality teams fail to qualify simply due to not enough numbers being available. We don't need more Asian, African or North/Central American teams. 1 more South American team perhaps, but we all know it will just guarantee Saudi Arabia and New Zealand qualification every 4 years + a few Tahiti-esq minnows to get steamrollered. Edited December 3, 2015 by norsefox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 If they do this it should be 2 extra from Europe, Africa and Asia, and 1 more from each of the Americas. Hopefully this could sort out the current farcical European scenario that sees a group runner up not even get a play-off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyDenoon Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 14 participants from Europe (15 if hosted in Europe including hosts). 7 qualifying groups. Top 2 qualify. Simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 14 participants from Europe (15 if hosted in Europe including hosts). 7 qualifying groups. Top 2 qualify. Simple. That was the format for Euro 2008 qualifiers. Big groups though, we had to play 12 games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyDenoon Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 That was the format for Euro 2008 qualifiers. Big groups though, we had to play 12 games. Aye, you're right and I got no issue with that Wasn't so much from the point of view of what would be easier or best for us, as such, more just a bloody simple format that's easy to understand with no gerrymandering and pissing about. For that reason it won't happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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