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Topic: World cup to include even more teams
1. Author:  widtink        
Date: Sun 12th Jul 2026. 21:07

BBC News - Gianni Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup - BBC Sport
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj9gm31jwg8o

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2. Author:  ipswichpar        
Date: Sun 12th Jul 2026. 21:32

Italy still probably won`t qualify.

What`s next.....letting B teams from countries qualify?!?

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3. Author:  Dave_1885        
Date: Sun 12th Jul 2026. 21:55

48 teams is fine, as proven by this years tournament.

64 is far too many.

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4. Author:  Bandy        
Date: Sun 12th Jul 2026. 22:51

This tournament has gone on way too long - I disagree it`s been good.

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5. Author:  jake89        
Date: Sun 12th Jul 2026. 23:05

This is just about squeezing more money out of people. Given the cost of tickets at this WC, FIFA can stick it where the sun don`t shine.

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6. Author:  da_no_1        
Date: Sun 12th Jul 2026. 23:28

I`ve enjoyed the tournament but its a round too big. 32 teams is plenty.

"Some days will stay a 1000 years, some pass like the flash of a spark"

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7. Author:  Raymie the Legend        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 05:26

jake89, Sun 12 Jul 23:05

This is just about squeezing more money out of people. Given the cost of tickets at this WC, FIFA can stick it where the sun don`t shine.


Agreed




It`s bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983


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8. Author:  1985Par        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 08:46

Sometimes less is more. 32 teams is the sweet spot. I’ve found many of the games quite absorbing with a welcome emphasis on attacking football, but it’s gone on a round too long.



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9. Author:  wee eck        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 09:12

One of the main problems would be finding a country big enough to hold it. Co-hosting seems to be the way forward. The 2030 tournament will be held in SIX countries. The main co-hosts will be Spain, Portugal and Morocco but opening games will be staged in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in recognition of the first WC having been held in Uruguay in 1930.

Infantino`s selling point is that it spreads the appeal of the game but of course it`s also likely to increase his popularity with more member countries of FIFA as well as increase revenue. At present there are 211 affiliated countries so expansion to 64 qualifiers would mean almost one-third of members would be there!

Post Edited (Mon 13 Jul 09:14)

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10. Author:  red-star-par        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 09:41

I think they should forget host countries, just have host contingents. Next World Cup, just have it in America, and do away with a qualifying campaign. Just have all the teams in the world there. 211 of them, a playoff between the 4 worst teams in the world to get rid of 3 of them and to give out a trophy at the start of the tournament to the Worlds Worstest team, have 3 knock out rounds, no seeding, whittle it down from the 208 teams to 104, then 104 to 52, then 52 to leave 26. Then just have all remaining 26 teams play each other in a league format, the games would be rapid fire, a game per country per day, but you would have massive squads to cope with it, 100 players per quad. Then get the two top teams in the league to play off in a best of 7 World Series of Soccer.

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11. Author:  Rusty Shackleford        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 09:42

Presumably would mean 16 groups of 4 and none of the best third place shenanegans. So the actual length end to end is the same, just more cities and groups to accommodate.

Agree that 32 is the most sensible.

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12. Author:  widtink        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 10:11

red-star-par, Mon 13 Jul 09:41

I think they should forget host countries, just have host contingents. Next World Cup, just have it in America, and do away with a qualifying campaign. Just have all the teams in the world there. 211 of them, a playoff between the 4 worst teams in the world to get rid of 3 of them and to give out a trophy at the start of the tournament to the Worlds Worstest team, have 3 knock out rounds, no seeding, whittle it down from the 208 teams to 104, then 104 to 52, then 52 to leave 26. Then just have all remaining 26 teams play each other in a league format, the games would be rapid fire, a game per country per day, but you would have massive squads to cope with it, 100 players per quad. Then get the two top teams in the league to play off in a best of 7 World Series of Soccer.


That`ll please the wife ...
She`s already moaning at me (cos it`s my fault obviously) that this world cup has gone on too long cos it`s interfering with her soaps (Corrie , EastEnders etc...) 🤣

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13. Author:  allanwilson10        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 13:16

Widtink- I think we have the same wife lol.

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14. Author:  Jock Par36        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 17:21

32 teams is enough. 8 groups of 4 teams,Top 2 go through
to the knockouts, the rest go home. Straight forward no
arshing about with the 3rd best teams. 64 teams is far
too much, it was shambolic with 48 teams.



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15. Author:  neils        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 18:29

I`m the same, 32 teams more than enough. This tournament has dragged a bit with only a few teams knocked out in the group stage

For sure the next WC will have hydration breaks too, now the money made can be seen, there`s no going back.

Bin the goal music too, I`ve got a feeling they will have this at EEP- some inane guy and bland music drowning out the cheers.



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16. Author:  Andrew283        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 18:38

neils, Mon 13 Jul 18:29

I`m the same, 32 teams more than enough. This tournament has dragged a bit with only a few teams knocked out in the group stage

For sure the next WC will have hydration breaks too, now the money made can be seen, there`s no going back.

Bin the goal music too, I`ve got a feeling they will have this at EEP- some inane guy and bland music drowning out the cheers.


There`s been goal music at EEP for at least 20 years tbf

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17. Author:  jake89        
Date: Mon 13th Jul 2026. 18:44

It`s the countdown to kick off I can`t stand.

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