World Cup set to expand to 40 teams from 2026 as part of Fifa reform plan

[lefty]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ms-fifa-reform

Fifa will continue to consider the expansion of the World Cup to 40 teams from 2026 – but a final decision has been deferred following Thursday’s executive committee meeting.


The committee discussed the dramatic expansion at a meeting on Thursday about a wider reform package – just hours after two more senior members were arrested in the lobby of the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich.


Fifa executives from Asia and Africa were understood to be strongly in favour of the idea. It also has the support of the Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino and some of the other Fifa presidential candidates. But the plan has been sent back to the Fifa administration for further research because it has commercial ramifications as well as statutory ones.

[lefty]

If confirmed this is how it will stand


UEFA: 14
CAF: 7
AFC: 6
CONCACAF: 5
CONMEBOL: 5
OFC: 1
Hosts: 1
**40th team will be "wild card"**


Africa, as expected, are the big winners gaining 2 full spots with OFC a winner getting a full spot. AFC, CONCACAF each get an extra spot. CONMEBOL largely remains the same, only their 5th place team won't have to compete in a playoff. UEFA actually gain a spot despite talks of reducing them.


The last spot is up for grabs, according to FIFA language its "based on sporting merits using a method yet to be defined"...aka wild card Basically if a big name doesn't make it I assume they will get a 'second chance'. If all the big names make it, I guess who bribes the most

[spursistan]

Keep on destroying the essence of these elite compe ion you money-grubbing suits in Fifa/UEFA

we will soon be back to 1970s and 12-0 scores vs the Zaire and Rwanda in WCs..

[velik_m]

Well that's a bunch of bad ideas.

[DAF86]

Horrible idea and what makes it worse is the spots given. Why the would Africa be allowed to place more teams than South Amercia? makes no sense at all.

[Canyonero]

Lol Africa and Asia having more teams than South America. This is some stupid just for more billions in TV rights.

[lefty]

Too many biters and HGH addicts in south American teams, not good for business imo

[cjw]

I understand capping South America at five - hard to justify automatically qualifying more than half the 10 teams. Sixth could make it as wild card. The 15th best UEFA team and 6th best CONMEBOL teams are way better than any other potential wild cards anyway.

Oceania (NZ now that Australia is in Asia) getting an automatic spot is a joke.

I imagine they would go to groups of five teams = 4 group games instead of three, adding tons of TV revenue but cheapening the early rounds. 24 would go through (1st to Rd 16, 2nd and 3rd to play-in). Better than 10 groups with no real way of determining who makes it through.

[Venti Quattro]

Too many biters and HGH addicts in south American teams, not good for business imo

Ukrainians should not be allowed, they may play even though they have been suspended for cards ac ulation

[Venti Quattro]

If they are going to expand, make it 48 countries so they can get an even spread of 6 teams per group. Plus, more games for everyone

[Canyonero]

Too many biters and HGH addicts in south American teams, not good for business imo

The Tour de France of football?

[lefty]

Ukrainians should not be allowed, they may play even though they have been suspended for cards ac ulation

Doesn't apply to Cherysev since he is Russian