40 country World Cup?

Uefa president Michel Platini has suggested that the World Cup should be expanded to 40 teams to include more Asian and African representatives, starting from 2018 in Russia.

Sepp Blatter has already stated that he wants more non-European teams at the World Cup and Platini agrees with the Fifa chief that it would be fruitful to have more African and Asian sides at the finals, although feels the best solution would be to expand the competition rather than to take away places from Europe.

"I totally agree with Sepp Blatter that we need more African and Asian teams. It would be good for everybody," Platini told The Times.

"But instead of taking away some European spots, we have to expand to 40 teams.

"For example, we can add two African, two Asian, two American, one Oceania and one from Europe."

Europe currently hold 13 of the 32 World Cup spots, whereas Africa have to settle for five places and Asia for four or five, depending on whether they qualify via a play-off against a South American team.

The World Cup was expanded from 24 to 32 teams in 1998 after a previous expansion from 16 to 24 in 1982.

May as well just expand it to 64 teams then.

All of SA Will gain direct passage.

No disrespect but who the hell cares to see more scrub countries at the world cup than there already are.

They should make two divisions for the qualifications. Other than that, I don't care if it's 32 or 40 at the final competiton.

The World Cup is an amazing spectacle, I'm all for increasing the amount of football we get to see.

Firenze wrote:The World Cup is an amazing spectacle, I'm all for increasing the amount of football we get to see.

I'm sure you'll enjoy watching games like Liberia vs Tonga.

It's all about the money. Asian markets are the goldmine everyone wants a part of, and what better way to draw more revenue than to insure that the likes of China and India (two biggest market in the world) can make it to the world cup

Buf, even with two more spots I doubt China and India would make it in the world cup in the near future. Maybe in 15 years.

McAgger wrote:

Firenze wrote:The World Cup is an amazing spectacle, I'm all for increasing the amount of football we get to see.

I'm sure you'll enjoy watching games like Liberia vs Tonga.

I will. I am a huge fan of the Lone Stars. Sekou Oliseh is a joy to watch.

Platini doesn't care about the World Cup, he just hopes to get a few votes from countries who continually just miss out on the WC. Increasing the size would increase the number of meaningless group stage matches and would throw schedules and other logistics into disarray. Nonsensical suggestion that's nothing more than vote-mongering, really.

World cup 2026 to be held at Afghanistan.

Insert joke about France not even making the World Cup even with this new help by Platini here

That would be great
We'll have a better chance to make it to the World Cup. In WC 2014 Q we made it to Top 10 in Asia, we're still improving and I think we "Lebanon" can make it in to Top 6 in Asia by 2018-2022.

Pedram wrote:World cup 2026 to be held at Afghanistan.

60k bearded fans in stadiums all sitting with their Ak47s latched on their shoulders.

RedOranje wrote:Platini doesn't care about the World Cup, he just hopes to get a few votes from countries who continually just miss out on the WC.  Increasing the size would increase the number of meaningless group stage matches and would throw schedules and other logistics into disarray.  Nonsensical suggestion that's nothing more than vote-mongering, really.

This and TV money deals are lucrative and that's all that matters.

McAgger wrote:

Pedram wrote:World cup 2026 to be held at Afghanistan.

60k bearded fans in stadiums all sitting with their Ak47s latched on their shoulders.

Where do I vote for this??

McAgger wrote:

Pedram wrote:World cup 2026 to be held at Afghanistan.

60k bearded fans in stadiums all sitting with their Ak47s latched on their shoulders.

Messi doesn't approve this.

Spoiler:

8 more teams isn't going to make much of a difference. Just 2 extra groups. Some people might prefer more teams to make it more interesting. Others might just want the group stages to be over as soon as possible. However there's nothing wrong with the idea.

The plan is to have 8 groups of 5 though. So as I said, more meaningless group stage games.

As long as we get to see Tahiti v San Marino

FIFA needs to demonstrate that quality of football played in these continents has risen significantly if they want to do this, that's the only acceptable reason for expanding the competition.

you think they care about quality? pricks are just concerned about generating(and stealing) as much money as possible.

They've already ruined the euro by adding more scrub teams and devaluing the competition, hey why not the world cup...  hate these guys

RedOranje wrote:The plan is to have 8 groups of 5 though.  So as I said, more meaningless group stage games.

This might not be a bad idea if you think about it. More scrub teams means more goals and less 0-0 or 1-0 games that have plagued the previous two world cups. With only 3 group games, teams tend to be more cautions as one negative result might ruin their chances of qualification, but with 1 extra game we can expect teams to take more risks since they'll have 1 more game to catch up.

You guys know why this makes a whole lot of sense?  The participating NTs in the world cup get massive monetary compensation.  It allows for footy to develop there.

Not to mention the national pride involved in participating.  What's the harm in bringing joy and happiness to more people?

The issue in countries in those regions is not talent. The ratio of talent to total players is as good as anywhere... it's training. Being able to bring that talent out.

Not surprised that the thinking of people here is so narrow though.

zizzle wrote:

RedOranje wrote:The plan is to have 8 groups of 5 though.  So as I said, more meaningless group stage games.

This might not be a bad idea if you think about it. More scrub teams means more goals and less 0-0 or 1-0 games that have plagued the previous two world cups. With only 3 group games, teams tend to be more cautions as one negative result might ruin their chances of qualification, but with 1 extra game we can expect teams to take more risks since they'll have 1 more game to catch up.

No, it means a lot more 8-0s and teams playing for a 0-0 draw in the vain hopes of pulling a Greece... and it means a lot more meaningless matches late in group stages after the standings have basically been decided and there's nothing to really play for.

This suggestion is basically attempting to fix something that's not broken and will inevitably break it in the process.