Possible expansion to 48 teams from 2026 world Cup.

[samhaydenjr]

Oh sorry - misread that.

Doesn't that mean an extra game to win it then? I thought they were really trying to avoid that

Yeah, and I remember when Infantino announced it originally, he acted like he was some sort of genius for creating a 48-team World Cup where the top four still played the same number of games - now he's acting like he's some sort of genius for deciding not to do that.

[seanfhear]

Yeah, and I remember when Infantino announced it originally, he acted like he was some sort of genius for creating a 48-team World Cup where the top four still played the same number of games - now he's acting like he's some sort of genius for deciding not to do that.
Is he an Irish Politician when he is not busy with the Football.

[pineapple stu]

La Liga not happy anyway (https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0315/1363368-laliga-slams-plans-for-expanded-world-cup-plans/).

[NeverFeltBetter]

The 32 team Club World Cup just doesn't do anything for me. The current model is bad enough really, FIFA seems inordinately committed to giving the Champions League winners an extra trophy every year. I don't think its ever going to be the equivalent to the actual World Cup because European clubs won't treat it like that, not least because it essentially means the best players in the world will get no Summers off, ever.

[John83]

I found this article somewhat helpful in understanding this. https://www.football365.com/news/2026-world-cup-48-team-format-utterly-dreadful-slightly-less-than-original
The biggest point it raises is the huge number of extra games over more or less the same length of time. Superstar burnout is almost guaranteed.

Anyone else have a better one?

[seanfhear]

Surely Players Unions should be having their say about the number of games / competitions that players play in.

if you turn the player in to a dead horse then that is certainly not good for the player.