49 replies to this topic

[BSLMikeLowe]

Announcement today.....the 2026 Cup, with 48 teams, will feature 12 groups with 4 teams each. The top 2 in each group will still advance to the knockout rounds, as will the top eight 3rd place teams (not sure exactly how tie-breakers would work there).

 

Since the tournament will now feature 104 matches, it will last for 39 days. FIFA will reduce the pre-tournament release period from 23 to 16 days to help make up for it.

[Mashed Potatoes]

I hate it!

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I hate it!

Which part(s)?

 

While I wouldn't have expanded in the first place 4 team groups was the only way to go. The idea of 3 team groups was a nonstarter.

[DuffMan]

Which part(s)?

 

While I wouldn't have expanded in the first place 4 team groups was the only way to go. The idea of 3 team groups was a nonstarter.

The only way I would get on board with a 3 team group would be if the WC was more frequent (3 years).  But if we are sticking to 4 years then I need at least 3 games.

[BSLMikeLowe]

3 team groups creates a situation where one team doesn’t get to play on the final day of the group stage. That can potentially lead to prearranged deals between the two teams that do play. 4 team groups were the way to go.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

3 team groups creates a situation where one team doesn’t get to play on the final day of the group stage. That can potentially lead to prearranged deals between the two teams that do play. 4 team groups were the way to go.

Besides the ability to create collusion like this its also a serious mistake from a pure soccer standpoint. One team gets to see a result for the other 2 before they even step on the field. Allows them to juggle their roster.

 

Then suppose a team gets the easy draw and plays on match day 1 and 2. They can use same starting XI in both matches since they have an extra long break between their second match and the knockout stage. A 3 team group just was full of problems and shouldn't have even been considered in the first place. But then hey its FIFA.

[Mike in STL]

Does this make the qualifiers watered down? Like the US will always get in now with a field of this size? Was it Italy that was a surprise missing team this year? That’ll never happen again, right.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Does this make the qualifiers watered down? Like the US will always get in now with a field of this size? Was it Italy that was a surprise missing team this year? That’ll never happen again, right.

 

2026 is a bit different with three hosts each guaranteed automatic berths. Not sure what the breakdown will be after that in cycles with one host country, but for sure CONCACAF will get at least one extra bid, making it more unlikely the US would ever miss out.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Which part(s)?

While I wouldn't have expanded in the first place 4 team groups was the only way to go. The idea of 3 team groups was a nonstarter.

For sure 3 team groups would've been worse but I don't like the diluting of the field.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Certainly with a 48 team format the intensity of qualifications is reduced. And Mike is right. With CONCACAF getting at least 4 spots in the future there is really no excuse for the US not making it every time.