I’m suddenly missing Sepp Blatter and his corruptive ways. At least he didn’t change anything on the field.
It was announced today that moving forward with the 2026 World Cup (host country to be chosen in 2020), the FIFA World Cup will consist of 48 teams. That means nearly a quarter of the countries in this world will be represented at the World Cup.
Call me nostalgic, but 32 teams was perfect. FIFA just devalued the tournament and the qualifying process and the true specialness it was to be at the World Cup. I absolutely hated it when the Euro went from 16 to 24 teams this past summer and I hate this news even more.
To me, it was always special seeing teams at the World Cup. You knew they had to qualify through a tough schedule and that merely being there was an honor. This news completely waters down the most prestigious tournament in the world. And although FIFA will claim that it will be “better for more nations to be represented,” this is a huge money grab in my opinion.
Thanks FIFA, for absolutely NOTHING.
I imagine the 2026 World Cup draw to go something like this…
I say eliminate the qualifying altogether – invite everyone – a true World Cup. Have the minnows show up a few weeks earlier to knock themselves out.
Same thing for the Euros – all teams invited.
If you did that, you can hold the World Cup (and the Euros) every two years instead of 4.
Would eliminate the stupid friendlies too.
Many thank yous maminjo
@Idemo
Check out BEIN sports online. I’m positive they will cover the Handball World Cup, and they stream it in HD. Just pay for what you watch and cast it to your TV.
If we’re going to scrap tradition, then I’d rather they just go with 128 teams and forget the entire group stage altogether. Just go directly into a knockout phase based on the FIFA rankings.
So if my 128-team knockout version of the World Cup started today…this would be Croatia’s World Cup:
Round of 128: Cyprus
Round of 64: Nigeria or Slovenia
Round of 32: Peru
Round of 16: Germany
Quarterfinals: Colombia
Semifinals: Brazil
Finals: Argentina
You don’t get a guaranteed 3-game group phase, so you go all out and don’t have to sit there doing calculations of who progresses after that third game and who doesn’t (plus, the teams who already progressed won’t be resting players in that third game).
The automatic three group games won’t really be missed as the top 16 teams won’t really be impacted in terms of how many games they play relative to current World Cups, as they are very likely to still finish the tournament with at least 4 games under their belt…unless they fall asleep on one of the minnow teams (which would be kind of exciting).
We’d probably see a Golden Boot award winner who ends up with 20 goals by the end of the tournament, especially if a player like Ronaldo goes up against a team like Equatorial Guinea in the Round of 128, lol.
Does anyone know if there’s a US channel showing handball so that I can order said US channel on my television
Sixteen groups with 3 teams each is the part I don’t like. The way it should go is, 8 groups, 6 teams in each group, top 8 go to the quater finals.
I will kill that baldy using a death note!
he will not survive. .
Love the 48 teams !
First two games of pool play you have to bring it and then knockout out rounds.
Croatia at that point should be a perennial top 8 seed in the world. Should avoid a top 2nd tier team in pool play. Get two good runs in before knock out round.
Those friendlies before the actual World Cup make me nervous and we never secure a good one anyway.
The World Cup is free advertising for Ljepa Naša.
You know Boban rolls with this dude.
I was in favor of 48 or more. A more realistic World Cup.
Livaja played pretty well against Atletico. That first goal…
Vrsaljko went from rb to lb in 2nd half. I like him getting time at Lb as he is still our best option at LB, and will thrive when Srna comes out of retirement.
@Maminjo-Does France’s team count as African or European?
This is good guys now Drkadrkastan, Narnia and Stankonia can qualify
@Anonymous
Also, it only means 6 spots for South American teams. They are being screwed the hardest by getting the lowest total.
All other continents are getting a HUGE spike in extra spots. Some are actually more than doubling their totals.
“Early reports suggest that Europe will get an additional three places taking their total representation at the World Cup to 16 teams.
Africa’s allocation will increase to nine, Asia’s to 8.5 (with the half place representing a team going to a play-off), South America’s to six, North America’s to 6.5, Oceania’s to one and one place will be held for the hosts.”
If this is all true, then there will be roughly 12-15 teams in the World Cup who actually won’t even be ranked in the top-48.
@ Anonymous
It’s actually going to be “16 three-team groups with the top two advancing to a round of 32”
I hope we get seeded in Group P, haha
Wake me up when it increases to 96 teams
8 groups, with six teams in each group is going to be good!
Hopefully it means 7 spots for the South American teams also!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
2026 WC Champions = Canada!
It might not be so bad. I just wish they could some how add another week to the tournament so the number of games reflect the number of teams a bit better.
Not sure many different nations have made the knockout rounds this century but i recently read how high it was and it surprised me. It’s not always the same best teams advancing out of the groups.