UPDATED " World Cup expanded to 48 teams "

UPDATED


The World Cup will be expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32, Fifa has decided.

An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for the 2026 tournament.

The sport's world governing body voted unanimously in favour of the change at a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday.

The number of tournament matches will rise to 80, from 64, but the eventual winners will still play only seven games.

The tournament will be completed within 32 days - a measure to appease powerful European clubs, who objected to reform because of a crowded international schedule.

The changes mark the first World Cup expansion since 1998.

The European Club Association (ECA), which represents the interests of clubs at European level, reiterated that it was not in favour of an expansion. It said Fifa had made a "political" rather than sporting decision.

"We fail to see the merits to changing the current format of 32 that has proven to be the perfect formula from all perspectives," it said in a statement.

"Questionable is also the urgency in reaching such an important decision, with nine years to go until it becomes applicable, without the proper involvement of stakeholders who will be impacted by this change.

"ECA will analyse in detail the impact and the consequences of the new format and will address the matter at the next meeting of its executive board, scheduled for the end of January."

New Fifa Now, a campaign group that says the governing body needs to reform, labelled the expansion "a money grab and power grab".

"It will dilute the competitiveness of the tournament and, therefore, the enjoyment of fans," it said in a statement.

"It will not help development of the game or provide improved competitive opportunities for lower-ranked nations. Instead, it will make a mockery of the qualification process for most confederations."




Monday 9th January 2017

BBC


Fifa will vote on Tuesday on plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026, in line with the vision of president Gianni Infantino.

The Swiss, who claims to have "overwhelming" support for the expansion plan, favours 16 groups of three countries, with the top two progressing to the knockout rounds.

If successful, it would lead to the first World Cup expansion since 1998.

There are five options world football's governing body will consider.

The expansion options

Infantino, 46, succeeded fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter as Fifa president in February 2016, having campaigned on a promise of expansion.

The former general secretary of Uefa [European football's governing body] initially suggested a 40-team tournament - an idea put forward by then-Uefa president Michel Platini in 2013 - before shifting focus to a 48-nation finals.

The five options the 37-member Fifa council will choose from are:

- A 48-team World Cup consisting of 16 groups of three, with the top two sides qualifying for a last-32 knockout stage (80 games in total);

- Another 48-team version consisting of a 32-team, one-game knockout round, with the winners joining 16 already-qualified teams (80 games - 16 in preliminary and 64 in main tournament);

- Expanding it to 40 teams, with 10 groups of four and only six group runners-up advancing (76 games);

- A 40-team tournament with eight groups of five (88 games);

- Keeping the World Cup at its present size of 32 teams (64 games).

In Infantino's favoured option, the number of games rises from 64 to 80, but the finals can still be played within the existing tournament duration of 32 days, while a nation will play no more than seven matches, as in the present format.

One potential flaw is that penalty shootouts may have to be introduced to settle drawn group matches to prevent two sides playing out a result in the last round of games that ensures both countries progress.

Why expand?

Speaking at a sports conference in Dubai in December, Infantino said the World Cup has to be "more inclusive" and that expansion will also benefit "the development of football all over the world".

He added: "There is nothing bigger in terms of boosting football in a country than participating in a World Cup."

Despite saying "the decision should not just be financially driven", Infantino did highlight the possible financial upsides.

According to Fifa's own research, revenue is predicted to increase to £5.29bn for a 48-team tournament, giving a potential profit rise of £521m.

Who is in favour of expansion?

Infantino has said that Fifa's 211 member federations are "overwhelmingly in favour" of a 48-team tournament, with the bulk of the 16 extra places expected to go to Africa and Asia.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all reportedly expected to back the expansion, as long as Europe is offered guarantees of extra spots.

Fifa is not planning to allocate the extra slots at Tuesday's vote. Europe currently has 13 places which could potentially rise to 16 with one European country in each group.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan has said that expansion is "a positive thing for the smaller nations", citing the performances of Wales, Iceland and Northern Ireland in the expanded 24-team Euro 2016 tournament.

Venezuelan Football Federation president Laureano Gonzalez has reportedly said that Fifa has proposed merging the North and South American qualifiers for a 48-team World Cup in 2026.

Gonzalez, who is also vice-president of South American governing body Conmebol, said that any support for the idea would depend on increasing their current combined share of seven places.

"If this went up to 14, similar to what Europe has for more or less the same number of teams, the idea would catch on," he added.

Who is against expansion?

While Britain's Fifa vice-president David Gill is expected to support the expansion plan, English Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn says the organisation would prefer to retain the current format.

"I can't influence Fifa - we're one voice out of 211," Glenn told BBC Radio 5 live Sportsweek.

"Our preference would be to keep the tournament smaller, because there's a quality factor here. But we'll try to influence the shape of it."

The main opposition so far has come from Germany, with football federation president Reinhard Grindel arguing that adding more teams could "strengthen the imbalance" seen at some tournaments.

The European Club Association (ECA), which represents the interests of the top club sides in Uefa, is also against the proposals, saying that an expanded tournament will mean more call-ups, injuries and congestion in the fixtures calendar.

"In the interest of the fans and the players, we urge Fifa not to increase the number of World Cup participants," said ECA chairman and former Germany international Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"Politics and commerce should not be the exclusive priority in football."

Reading between the lines, euro qualification groups will not be changing much so small euro teams like Wales won't benefit! But Africa /Asia and possibly South America will? Of course underlying the move is extra income for corrupt fifa!!!

I was listening to something on the radio about this earlier and they were saying that expanding the tournament will limit the amount of country's that will be able to host it and just give bigger nations more of a monopoly on it.

I think they should just keep it as it is to be honest, the more teams that are in it the more it will get devalued imo, the Euro's just about worked with the extra teams but for me, only just.

I was listening to something on the radio about this earlier and they were saying that expanding the tournament will limit the amount of country's that will be able to host it and just give bigger nations more of a monopoly on it.

I think they should just keep it as it is to be honest, the more teams that are in it the more it will get devalued imo, the Euro's just about worked with the extra teams but for me, only just.

It will probably mean going back to Europe and the Americas alternatively like before ? As surely 16 groups mean 16 different locations how many countries can accommodate this??

Exactly, theres very few countrys that would have the infrastructure to do it.

Exactly, theres very few countrys that would have the infrastructure to do it.

Think fifa have given up on expanding where it can be held due to cost to host countries, and now doing the only other thing and thats to expand comp size! The one thing it would do either way is increase revenue for them? And to me that is their only reason for doing it.

Stupid decision but as with everything in this world money talks unfortunately

Stupid decision but as with everything in this world money talks unfortunately

Yes listening to talk radio and just bleating on how be good for smaller nations mainly mostly africa/asia not once have they mentioned fact that it won't be easier for Wales ect to qualify as only 3 extra places to be given to Europe and presume that be new members like Malta Gibraltar ! Asia/Africa will benefit that's for sure and what country can fit in 16 venues? Just money making excersise!

48 is too many.

Great news. We're going to the next three

No news yet on where the extra 16 teams will come from?

No news yet on where the extra 16 teams will come from?

Well he's saying bulk going to Africa / Asia! Europe get 3 extra with south America wanting more as well. If this is case Wales ect will still have difficult job to qualify as format in Europe will be same a now?

Not impressed, to many countries now.

Not impressed, to many countries now.

Annis it smacks of a political move seeing as most of extra teams planned come from areas who generally support fifa and it's corupt committees!