64 team World Cup

[Orraloon]

On 7/26/2026 at 12:53 AM, fringo said:

There's only 10 countries in south American area. It's already a disgrace they get 5 or 6 places.

I disagree. I want more South American teams. They are far more entertaining to watch than most European teams. Scotland being a prime example, but by no means the only one. 

[DoonTheSlope]

2 hours ago, Orraloon said:

I disagree. I want more South American teams. They are far more entertaining to watch than most European teams. Scotland being a prime example, but by no means the only one. 

I’d take a few more Oceania and CONCACAF teams on the off chance we might qualify and could get a win 

[ceudmilefailte]

When did Antarctica stop being a continent?

[Toepoke]

1 hour ago, ceudmilefailte said:

When did Antarctica stop being a continent?

Not renowned for football action, although I wouldn't put it past FIFA awarding them the World Cup finals...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Antarctica

 

[Orraloon]

19 hours ago, Toepoke said:

Not renowned for football action, although I wouldn't put it past FIFA awarding them the World Cup finals...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Antarctica

 

We might sneak a 1-0 win against them? Mibbees?

[DoonTheSlope]

21 hours ago, ceudmilefailte said:

When did Antarctica stop being a continent?

Probably when the Rothschilds started hiding the evidence…

[0Neils40yarder]

64 teams...an absolute nonsense. The quality on show in a 48 team world cup should render the argument of an even bigger tourney, completely redundant 

[Malcolm]

17 hours ago, 0Neils40yarder said:

64 teams...an absolute nonsense. The quality on show in a 48 team world cup should render the argument of an even bigger tourney, completely redundant 

apprently johnny infantino wants to run it every two years!

[Jim1576]

and, as I posted on another thread, wants to privatise part of it. Ceferin and UEFA have raised fundamental objections, on the basis that it is the people's game not for sale. Even the FA has objected (not word yet from SFA!?). If Infantino tries to pursue this idea, UEFA, having already objected to 64 team competition, could threaten to withdraw from the whole thing, which would effectively scupper the notion. Intersting to note that one of the interested privateers is Jared Kushner's brother.  

[0Neils40yarder]

1 hour ago, Malcolm said:

apprently johnny infantino wants to run it every two years!

Someone needs to give that clown a right good kick in the plums

10 minutes ago, Jim1576 said:

 not word yet from SFA

They are shitebags from two of their own clubs ffs

[DoonTheSlope]

15 minutes ago, Jim1576 said:

and, as I posted on another thread, wants to privatise part of it. Ceferin and UEFA have raised fundamental objections, on the basis that it is the people's game not for sale. Even the FA has objected (not word yet from SFA!?). If Infantino tries to pursue this idea, UEFA, having already objected to 64 team competition, could threaten to withdraw from the whole thing, which would effectively scupper the notion. Intersting to note that one of the interested privateers is Jared Kushner's brother.  

The SFA will accept the FIFA proposals with no questions asked

The FIFA finance committee is chaired by our very own SFA President Mike Mulraney 

[DoonTheSlope]

6 minutes ago, 0Neils40yarder said:

Someone needs to give that clown a right good kick in the plums

They are shitebags from two of their own clubs ffs

The SFA President is the chair of the FIFA Finance committee. The SFA will back the proposals put forward 

[biffer]

UEFA have all the cards here. Raise more money than any other confederation and are willing to let that be disbursed to other confederations. Have the overwhelming majority of the best teams. Have the best players from all over the world in our leagues. 
 

FIFA needs UEFA more than UEFA needs FIFA. If they walk away from the World Cup the thing is fucked. 

[Toepoke]

8 hours ago, Malcolm said:

apprently johnny infantino wants to run it every two years!

That's not a new idea for them....

https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/jan/04/newsstory.sport1

 

[Malcolm]

2 hours ago, biffer said:

UEFA have all the cards here. Raise more money than any other confederation and are willing to let that be disbursed to other confederations. Have the overwhelming majority of the best teams. Have the best players from all over the world in our leagues. 
 

FIFA needs UEFA more than UEFA needs FIFA. If they walk away from the World Cup the thing is fucked. 

they should and just play a euros in competition with the world cup

[Malcolm]

7 minutes ago, Toepoke said:

That's not a new idea for them....

https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/jan/04/newsstory.sport1

 

part of what makes the world cup special is its only every 4 years. Would ruin it if they did this.

[Ally Bongo]

Was researching FIFA's proposals online and the short answer of what's in store is this:

FIFA set up a World Cup investment company which, based on the last World Cup, is worth say $15 billion 

The investors look at the money FIFA make from World Cup's and believe that it is worthwhile to invest $20 billion into this company 

Now think of Dragon's Den 

These investors along with FIFA are going to think of everything they can do to at the very least double, treble or quadruple the amount of money FIFA rakes in from future tournaments and nothing is off the table 

Broadcasting and Advertising are the two main FIFA moneymakers so the money received from those will need to go up if Investors are going to make money 

And then there is the match tickets and hospitality - all will need to at the very least be on the same scale as USA2026 and possibly higher 

More tournaments, more participants as well  

Any chance of the game being given back to the fans is gone 

And that's it  

 

Edited July 29 by Ally Bongo

[del_boy1]

7 hours ago, Ally Bongo said:

Was researching FIFA's proposals online and the short answer of what's in store is this:

FIFA set up a World Cup investment company which, based on the last World Cup, is worth say $15 billion 

The investors look at the money FIFA make from World Cup's and believe that it is worthwhile to invest $20 billion into this company 

Now think of Dragon's Den 

These investors along with FIFA are going to think of everything they can do to at the very least double, treble or quadruple the amount of money FIFA rakes in from future tournaments and nothing is off the table 

Broadcasting and Advertising are the two main FIFA moneymakers so the money received from those will need to go up if Investors are going to make money 

And then there is the match tickets and hospitality - all will need to at the very least be on the same scale as USA2026 and possibly higher 

More tournaments, more participants as well  

Any chance of the game being given back to the fans is gone 

And that's it  

 

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse! 

I was already heavily disappointed in the SFA, that there was no public condemnation of WC ticket prices amongst other things. I have zero confidence that they have any sort of backbone and won't be surprised if they support this idea, because Maxwell and Mulraney are useless and will only be interested in what suits them.

The recent WC was clearly a tester by Infantino to see if the public would accept his preposterous ticket pricing. These prices are now here to stay and will likely get more expensive. This is what happens when folk bend over and pay stupid amounts to attend a game of football. 

If this goes ahead, I'll be turning my back on international football and my already bought tickets will not be getting used. 

 

[bdgsct]

4 hours ago, del_boy1 said:

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse! 

I was already heavily disappointed in the SFA, that there was no public condemnation of WC ticket prices amongst other things. I have zero confidence that they have any sort of backbone and won't be surprised if they support this idea, because Maxwell and Mulraney are useless and will only be interested in what suits them.

The recent WC was clearly a tester by Infantino to see if the public would accept his preposterous ticket pricing. These prices are now here to stay and will likely get more expensive. This is what happens when folk bend over and pay stupid amounts to attend a game of football. 

If this goes ahead, I'll be turning my back on international football and my already bought tickets will not be getting used. 

 

I said the same when people were buying tickets for $400/$500. Stadiums were full so tbf that became the market rate and it will be worse next time. Happy for Uefa to bow out and have the Euros every 2 years. European clubs should ditch the club world cup too. 

This is all just a smokescreen, the same as the superleague was. It won't happen but it will make the changes FIFA do make look 'less bad' and probably be accepted.

[mccaughey85]

On 7/29/2026 at 9:54 PM, Malcolm said:

they should and just play a euros in competition with the world cup

A euros plus hand out invitations to the south American teams.

[Ally Bongo]

[Rich NATA]

Logistically, which individual countries could realistically host a 48 or 64 team World Cup?

I'm talking stadiums, transport, accommodation.

If a tournament is too big for a France, England, Germany Italy, Spain to host, then it's too big me thinks.

[DoonTheSlope]

39 minutes ago, Rich NATA said:

Logistically, which individual countries could realistically host a 48 or 64 team World Cup?

I'm talking stadiums, transport, accommodation.

If a tournament is too big for a France, England, Germany Italy, Spain to host, then it's too big me thinks.

China and America. Possibly India if they have sufficient stadia

[Clyde1998]

8 hours ago, Rich NATA said:

Logistically, which individual countries could realistically host a 48 or 64 team World Cup?

I'm talking stadiums, transport, accommodation.

If a tournament is too big for a France, England, Germany Italy, Spain to host, then it's too big me thinks.

Adequate training facilities would be another big consideration. A country would need 48/64 training facilities suitable to host the competition (one per participating nation).

Germany seemed to use mostly lower league stadia as training camps for Euro 2024.

England has thirty-one Category One youth academies*, so each of those should have adequate facilities. Add in a few other training facilities (Category Two; St George's Park) and some lower league grounds, they probably could meet the requirements in this regards for a 48-team World Cup on their own, but I imagine 64-teams would be pushing it.

*All Premier League teams except Coventry and Hull, plus Birmingham; Blackburn; Burnley; Derby; Leicester; Middlesbrough; Norwich; Reading; Southampton; Stoke; West Brom; West Ham; and Wolves.

[Toepoke]

3 hours ago, Clyde1998 said:

Adequate training facilities would be another big consideration. A country would need 48/64 training facilities suitable to host the competition (one per participating nation).

Germany seemed to use mostly lower league stadia as training camps for Euro 2024.

England has thirty-one Category One youth academies*, so each of those should have adequate facilities. Add in a few other training facilities (Category Two; St George's Park) and some lower league grounds, they probably could meet the requirements in this regards for a 48-team World Cup on their own, but I imagine 64-teams would be pushing it.

*All Premier League teams except Coventry and Hull, plus Birmingham; Blackburn; Burnley; Derby; Leicester; Middlesbrough; Norwich; Reading; Southampton; Stoke; West Brom; West Ham; and Wolves.

For a European event that might encourage teams to base themselves in their own country and travel to each game. That could certainly be the case for us if a World Cup was in England!