holt >> יום שישי יולי 20 - 13:52

@Andrei "Was it really required for you to post that?"

Jeez man you gotta banter.

Alex Seymour >> יום שישי יולי 20 - 17:11

Not sure I really like the idea of 3 countries hosting the world Cup. I like it when just 1 country does it. The tornament has an identity then. I guess it's so expensive that no country really wants to take it on.

Balthazor >> יום שישי יולי 20 - 19:31

It will be quite surely 48 teams to host. Mexico has experience with 24 teams from 1986 and US from 1994. So it would be big bite for every host. 

I'm quite sure that currently planned 16x3 groups will be bad idea as most of eliminated teams will be those who can't play on last matchday. There will be some "disgrace of Gijon" replays, maybe  displayed with better scenario planned by both teams. There is always chance to eliminate third team if it has no positive GD after two matches. 

Stephen >> יום שישי יולי 20 - 21:36

I also have serious reservations about this, Balthazor. You've highlighted some of the potential problems there.

holt >> שבת יולי 21 - 03:45

With 3 side groups,I'm looking forward to the Old-School Germany VS Austria match.

denisgrad >> שבת יולי 21 - 05:18

Thats my dillema as Canadian. Happy we are finally gonna be in world cup in 2026. But so disappointed they changed the format in the tournament I probably wouldnt have watched it if Canada wasnt in it.

ALEX >> שבת יולי 21 - 05:35, ערוך שבת יולי 21 - 08:44

Yea, the odd numbers of teams in group are weird, and affect the teams that can't play the last matchday.

The non-powers of 2 as group numbers will require a position where the qualification in the next stage from a certain position will require some extra luck from the other groups.

A 8x6 teams can fix these 2 "issues", but 6 teams in a group is kinda weird, and, looking at the matchdays, they will be 5+4, pretty inefficient number.

With 12x4 or 16x3 -> 3 + 4 or 5, depending on how many rounds of eliminatories are wanted. (4 for 16 teams in; 5 for 32 teams in)

holt >> שבת יולי 21 - 07:06

8X6 will actually ensure that there aren't any "lucky" teams making it through.Don't know whether that is a good thing or not.

Miroslav Karaicic >> שבת יולי 21 - 11:25

A three team group can work only if the winnig team from the first group match does not play the second match. This way the losing team gets a immediate chance to catch up, and the winning team has the oportunity to finish off everything in the last game, without risking to be cheated. Still, I think 3 team groups are stupid. Any system that allows cheating in the last match day is just not good.

Balthazor >> יום ראשון יולי 22 - 18:18, ערוך יום ראשון יולי 22 - 18:21

Main arguement for 16x3 is overall number of matches: 48. With 12x4 it would be 72 and group phase would last too long as in 2 first rounds there is no more than 3 matches per day and add almost week to length of tournament. With 8x6 groups there would be even more matches(8x15=120) in group phase, that would sound too mad.

I would prefer 12x4- it holds tension in groups to last matches and no such matches where both teams play just for their honour like Saudi-Egypt (and couple of more)was. 

Starris1 >> יום חמישי יולי 26 - 02:52

Why change something that isn't broken.

Russia was one of the greatest world cups to date.

Only one nil all draw, lots of upsets, lots of goals.

Hell a team with about 4million people almost took it out.

48 teams just serves to dilute the big games.

There will be more mismatched games as minnows get slaughtered by stronger sides.

I'd love to see New Zealand in there more often but only when it's derserved like the two times we hae made it.

Namejs >> יום חמישי יולי 26 - 06:00

Starris, that's what people said about 24 team European Championship but that worked perfectly.