Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

TTVmeatce t1_ixp2bck wrote

fuck fifa

240

Reiseoftheginger t1_ixpvdyd wrote

As a Scotsman this is very exciting. Because I get to watch as we somehow manage to still not qualify.

214

TheRaphMan t1_ixqcuzy wrote

Same, but as an Italian

53

whooo_me t1_ixqjr67 wrote

As an Irish person, we're pre-emptively boycotting 2026 because of the awful human rights record of [checks notes...] Canada, the US and Mexico.

27

TheRaphMan t1_ixqsoao wrote

Italy boycotted both Russian and Qatar, I’m so proud of them!

16

Duckdiggitydog t1_ixr0xib wrote

Italy has never been known for football /s

4

TheRaphMan t1_ixr13np wrote

On the bright side, at least I can laugh at my friends when I tell them that Portugal can win their next 26 World Cup games in a row and still have less world cups than Italy

4

TreeBearOne t1_ixpprkp wrote

..mo' countries, mo' money

204

Mister-Nash-Ketchum t1_ixrw96d wrote

This is a great thing honestly. I’ve no doubt that avarice drives FIFA’s motives, but in return we get a more varied roster, and more soccer fans have their countries represented. Win-win.

2

fishypizza1 t1_ixseg5h wrote

Yes. I love money just as much as I love slave labor and women having no rights.

  • FIFA president...probably
1

nucc4h t1_ixpfx31 wrote

Terrible idea. The talent pool isn't big enough.

But $$$$

91

lefix t1_ixpwpmp wrote

I don't mind, noones forcing you to watch their group stage matches. But there are many football crazy countries, who never got to see their team at a world cup. It will bring so much joy to those people, even if the lose every match.

41

almightygarlicdoggo t1_ixpygyh wrote

I disagree, participating in the World Cup sould be a privilege for those teams that managed to classify, if more teams classify then it will make that process boring and being in the tournament will not be as special for some nations.

Also, more teams doesn't usually equals tougher competition, but rather weaker teams will play, therefore adding uninteresting matches, and better teams which used to play good football will now be more tired and won't play at their full potential to preserve more energy.

I hope I'm wrong but adding more teams just seems as a money grab from FIFA while the sport and show loses.

The same argument could be made that instead of adding more teams you add more games, so the World Cup instead of being every 4 years now turns into every 2 years. Sure, weaker teams now have a better chance, but the tournament wouldn't feel as special.

−2

jdoyle87 t1_ixq0ttf wrote

I take it you were against the increase from 24 to 32 back in 1998?

and the increase from 16 to 24 in 1982?

My view is: there are more confederations able to compete and put forward good teams. Expansion makes sense.

In previous eras teams like Saudi Arabia and Japan would never have had a route to the finals because their confederation didn't get the spots, yet they've proven they can be there on merit.

As it stands, Oceania (11 countries, 0 qualified), AFC (46 countries, 6 qualified), CONCACAF (35 countries, 4 qualified) and CAF (54 countries, 5 qualified) are under-represented in a 32 team World Cup when you compare with Europe's slots (55 countries, 13 qualified). It's reasonable to think that the more teams that can participate, the more likely it is for football to improve in those countries.

20

almightygarlicdoggo t1_ixq1h3w wrote

You're right, this World Cup is proving to be great for the underdogs, and I wish them the best. As I said, I hope I'm wrong but I see it as a cash grab from FIFA to get more games crammed together. And as you said, I would change the representations from each continental division.

However, football is more than just some goals, and even though it's great to see underdogs winning, usually the bigger teams provide a better game style which is more beautiful to watch, and in my opinion that's what the World Cup is about, to provide the best spectacle possible.

9

Cold_Ice7 t1_iy9ialk wrote

If you're talking about best spectable, you can't act like Cameroon - Serbia, Ghana - South Korea weren't the 2 absolute bangers of this cup.

2

almightygarlicdoggo t1_iyak513 wrote

You're right, this world cup is proving me wrong. I feel like the level of smaller teams has increased over the last few years and I'm all for it.

1

bimbles_ap t1_ixq2qcn wrote

Reading this I thought you were wrong about Oceania because I believed I saw Australia playing in the World Cup.

Looked it up and they're part of the AFC, how does Australia qualify as part of the Asian federation? I get they switched to it, but I don't get why that's just allowed.

4

Zolba t1_ixq8o2o wrote

>Reading this I thought you were wrong about Oceania because I believed I saw Australia playing in the World Cup.

Just to point out, Oceania have 0.5 qualifying spots. The winner of the Oceania (OFC) World Cup Qualifiers meets the 4th placed CONCACAF(North&Central America and Caribbean). New Zealand lost against Costa Rica in that match.

6

-TheRightTree- t1_ixqojvv wrote

Aren't the World Cup qualifiers also part of the World Cup, and almost all countries precipitate in it? And representation shouldn't matter imo. You qualify if you win, don't if you lose. I'm not sure how the new slots will be divided, but of the top 50 countries that didn't qualify, most of them are European (Italy, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, etc).

48 countries just seem to to a bit too much, considering that there's only like 50~60 countries with a semi-decent football team and culture. Qatar, which is around 50th in the world ranking, is struggling in the current World Cup. Imagine similar ranking countries participating without the host nation advantage - it's going to be boring AF.

1

Expat1989 t1_ixqjkps wrote

We’ve seen more unexpected wins this World Cup than any other previously. More teams means more potential for unexpected wins which equals an exciting World Cup

3

almightygarlicdoggo t1_ixqkblw wrote

You're right, it's a very interesting world cup. Asian teams seem to be performing really well, and Canada was certainly a nice surprise. I hope this World Cup proves me wrong and underdogs get far.

2

The_Panic_Station t1_ixr9v4t wrote

3/19 matches so far were won by the underdog (looking at the betting market).

Outside of Japan and Saudi beating big nations the results have largely been fairly expected so far, and they were pretty lucky in doing so if you rewatch the games.

Belgium-Canada is the only big surprise in terms of how the match looked out of the 19 played. I wouldn't say this World Cup has been more unpredictable than the most previous editions.

2

Cold_Ice7 t1_iy9fgej wrote

Every 2 years is too much. As you implied, it's an event that has to be a build up of anticipation. You have to miss it. No way it would feel memorable with so many world cup songs along the way. 4 years feels like forever. It's why it's great.

Though, I disagree that it would be boring to have 48 teams. Perhaps for those who always have their teams represented, such as the Europeans, but for everyone else, it would be a dream and surreal to see their national team in the biggest sporting event. On top of that, it would also feel a lot more like a "World" Cup. Ask FIFA why they expanded it from 16 groups to 32. Same reason. Imagine seeing all the different flags, different cultures, different playstyles, different songs, all coming together. Surely you must be tired of always seeing the same EuroLeague players.

1

BadAtNameIdeas t1_ixpydqd wrote

That’s the equivalent of giving that country a participation trophy. I would find no joy in my country going just to never win.

−11

Knyfe-Wrench t1_ixq3uyt wrote

48 is less than a quarter of the national teams in the world. That's more exclusive than any major US sport's playoffs. But sure, it's a "participation trophy."

5

BadAtNameIdeas t1_ixq4w6t wrote

In response to the person that I commented to, a participation trophy is exactly what it would feel like -“it would bring so much joy to these people, even if they lose every match”. Also, the qualifying for the World Cup is a years long process, wherein every country that’s eligible can compete to qualify. It’s not exclusive, it’s earned to be there.

−2

hcbaron OP t1_ixoyxe3 wrote

>On January 10, 2017, the FIFA Council chose the fourth option and voted unanimously to expand to a 48-team tournament.[3] The tournament will open with a group stage consisting of 16 groups of three teams, with the top two teams progressing from each group to a knockout tournament starting with a round of 32 teams.[11] The number of games played overall will increase from 64 to 80, but the number of games played by finalists remains at seven, the same as with 32 teams. Each team will play one fewer group match than under the previous format, compensating for the additional knockout round. The tournament will also be completed within 32 days, the same as previous 32-team tournaments.[

74

AnselaJonla t1_ixp3de9 wrote

So how's that going to affect the Europe cap? With 8 groups of four teams, FIFA caps European participation at 2 per group. Not all groups have two European teams in right enough (12 out of the theoretical maximum of 16), but they're spread through all the groups.

19

hcbaron OP t1_ixpdvoa wrote

UEFA will have 16 teams in 2026. See Slot Allocation section in the link.

22

sullg26535 t1_ixqlaa3 wrote

It's going to be much worse as groups matter much less.

3

MarylandHusker t1_ixrn5ix wrote

Ehh should functionally be about the same. 4 points to ensure you advance. Winning with 6 gives you a more advantageous knockout game 1.

I’m not really a fan but there are worse things that could ruin footy

1

sullg26535 t1_ixrnmmp wrote

The quality of the games will be so much worse though

1

MarylandHusker t1_ixrntn4 wrote

Maybe. Hard to say how much worse 60 is than 48 but we’ve already seen wild upsets this year with the lowest seeded teams.

1

sullg26535 t1_ixro665 wrote

It's the quality of the groups you wouldn't get a USA England in groups next world cup. You'd get England Iran, and thatd be a good matchup

1

ItsCalledDayTwa t1_ixpgav4 wrote

One fewer group match? So the groups in the stage of 32 no longer all play each other? That seems... Deeply imbalanced.

−18

Fred_Smythe t1_ixphtdq wrote

Sixteen groups of three, thus, two group matches. Which means the first round is basically gonna flush out all of the 0-2 teams but it ALSO means drawing is gonna be the kiss of death so teams are gonna be busting their ass to score in the final minutes of a level match.

25

screwswithshrews t1_ixpz67k wrote

So Argentina and Germany would basically be done now under this format?

6

JoePizza22 t1_ixq19p7 wrote

No not at all, 2 teams from 3 would go through to the next round. 1 win almost guarantees progression so they would have a must win 2nd game.

7

CHRLZ_IIIM t1_ixppk1v wrote

I really like that aspect of it

4

InGenAche t1_ixqeobi wrote

It's going to make the early rounds boring as fuck.

Any team 1 or 2 up against a poorer team by half time are just going to coast.

1

sourhair t1_ixpw69x wrote

It might be just as likely the third game becomes meaningless if both teams have already beaten the 3rd placed team.

I also foresee issue of teams being on equal points and GD after just 3 rounds.. Who really trusts FIFA to fairly pick which 2 teams go through

1

DitsyGritzy t1_ixq26yu wrote

I’m assuming that they force all tied games to go to shootouts. And that they leverage tie breaking procedures (goals allowed, goals scored, # red/yellow cards issued, etc…). And should all else fail…. Coin flip

3

Willsmithsdignity t1_ixq0j2m wrote

If there's 16 playoff spots still that 3rd game would be for everything

1

TheSpacePopeIX t1_ixqak5u wrote

Does the math on this work out? A draw guarantees that one other team in your group has only 1 point as well.

Plus selling out to try to score but getting scored on instead is a four point swing in your opponents favor,

1

muaddib99 t1_ixqbrzj wrote

depends on the order of the games i guess. if you've both played and lost to the other team, but you lost by 2 and they by 1, you're going to be balls to the wall trying to win late because otherwise you're out on goal differential

3

TheSpacePopeIX t1_ixqdtlo wrote

I guess, but doesn’t that more or less happen in the current group format?

1

TheSpacePopeIX t1_ixqa19v wrote

I mis-understood this in the same way, I thought that they were saying we would see a three-team group, knockout one third of teams, and then proceed as normal. Instead, after the worst team in each group is eliminated, we’ll have a big knockout bracket of 32 teams. World Cup going March Madness on us.

2

ItsCalledDayTwa t1_ixqbcu4 wrote

Yeah I thought the round of 32 was the group stage with one fewer match. I think champions league used to do two group stages.

1

camy205 t1_ixps55w wrote

Oooh my Kiwis may have a chance

63

myrio285 t1_ixrwwq5 wrote

It feels like a permanent position for New Zealand in OFC

2

Horsebackpack t1_ixq82y1 wrote

will be so thrilling to see Trinidad&Tobago facing Vietnam

24

relevantcucumber t1_ixpd9sx wrote

For me, it feels like increasing the number of teams will just reduce the importance and impact of the tournament. Participating in the World Cup used to be a huge performance as only the world's top teams would qualify.

23

Isak531 t1_ixpmrzz wrote

Honestly with the groups only consisting of 3 teams, so only two games per group will be played that will make this much less worse than I thought. Should get rid of the worst teams pretty quickly. Now a group of Spain, Saudi Arabia and Trinidad Tobago doesn't sound very interesting.. but then again there's been plenty of upsets this WC already.

14

Dave-Again t1_ixpc637 wrote

And it’s going to be held all over North America. It will be my first chance to attend a World Cup game.

21

hcbaron OP t1_ixpd9j3 wrote

Same. I'm really looking forward to it.

9

beeen_there t1_ixozvbx wrote

As long as nobody's queer, or a boozer, that's all football eh?

15

Phil_N_Uponya t1_ixpv9ia wrote

As long as it's not held in the middle east or wherever it's at now. I don't really understand people's surprise with these rules they've put into effect. Their culture doesn't tolerate shit like that.

−8

TheisNamaar t1_ixqgz7m wrote

Which is why this shit shouldn't take place in places like that? Why support bigots and terrorists?

3

Phil_N_Uponya t1_ixschil wrote

Bro it's the world Olympics, they don't have to accept all of the west's weird wokeness if they don't want to. A committee elected that location, it's not like somebody fucked up when they put it there.

−1

TheisNamaar t1_ixsdtf6 wrote

Uhm, I'm not sure I'd say slavery, arresting people for showing their hair or being gay or being raped, and active racism, quite works with your "wokeness" claim.

Unless you are suggesting it's totally okay to detain, assault and alienate someone based on immutable qualities they've possessed since birth, like being female or white(or any other ethnic group from outside qatar).

1

FartingBob t1_ixqz74h wrote

It's being held in the Upper West next time, so should be much better.

1

mist3rdragon t1_ixq8acn wrote

It's really going to fuck up the format, the whole 3 team group stage thing is awful.

15

hcbaron OP t1_ixqmzdz wrote

Yes, that's one of them major complaints of this new format, because it makes collusion easier. They are considering 12 groups of 4 also. It's not fully decided yet I believe.

7

Ephemeral-Throwaway t1_iy7r493 wrote

If they do it, then 12 groups of 4 is better.

But it basically makes the group stage a formality for the big nations, there's barely any jeaopardy as 8 of the 12 3rd place finishes will go through.

The one thing it could be interpreted as though is that it is a festival of football for the group stage, a chance for teams to get a rhythm going and then the real business starts with the last 32 stage.

1

Metfan722 t1_ixqpoab wrote

Three host countries is the reason why. Instead of it just being the US, it's them, plus Canada and Mexico.

10

Nopengnogain t1_ixqw4z6 wrote

It was 24 teams before they expanded it to 32. If you are wondering, there were divided into six groups of four teams each, top two from each group plus four best 3rd place finishers advance to knockout stages.

6

ax083 t1_ixq4sid wrote

And yet Italy will find a way to not qualify.

5

Melancholic84 t1_ixp84sp wrote

I like this idea, especially after the upsets this world produced already.

3

druidofnecro t1_ixqizm4 wrote

Hear me out here: March Madness style bracket. Single Elimination. 128 countries.

3

grump500 t1_ixqpy8b wrote

Would have been better if it was 0 teams. Fuck FIFA.

3

StonedOtter0_0 t1_ixpg5b0 wrote

Does anyone know when tickets for the games usually go on sale and where you’d be able to buy them? Since this World Cup will be in North America, I think it’d be a great opportunity to cross this off my bucket list

2

Feisty-Location-5708 t1_ixph2gi wrote

Tickets will likely go on sale sometime between January and march of 2026 after the schedule comes out

3

Bownaldo t1_ixq2eyq wrote

This is good for Italy

2

TheisNamaar t1_ixqgsy8 wrote

Sweet, so canada gets to spend a fuck ton of money we really don't have to a bunch of greedy, evil fucks at fifa

Fuck fifa

Fuck the world cup

2

Mormegil1971 t1_ixqn16u wrote

16 groups with 3 three teams...whoah. Better not have any injuries anywhere, and a single loss will be even more devastating than today.

I don't like it. It's too dependent on pure luck.

40 teams in eight groups with five matches would have been better.

2

chris_redz t1_ixr6jkx wrote

This is crap. The level of the World Cup will drop dramatically. Who wants to see Thailand vs Barbados? Only them lot. Money rules……

2

No_Plum8003 t1_ixp3dxa wrote

Of course, that way FIFA can make even more money out of the tournaments

1

squigs t1_ixpv7l1 wrote

I'm actually okay with that. Making more money by having more matches and including more countries at least means they're providing something of value to the public.

Making money by accepting bribes and ignoring a whole bunch of human rights abuses - far less so.

6

JosipCoric t1_ixq6a65 wrote

What team still wouldn't qualify?

1

TheRaphMan t1_ixqcs7x wrote

Wow Italy might actually make it this time!

Jk we all know they won’t

1

DonnieSII t1_ixqfcie wrote

And the last great World Cup with 32, is ruined in Qatar!

1

LeNigh t1_ixqhndk wrote

I bet they carried out a study that showed the top 48 countries with decent football teams, bring the most money per effort.

Allowing all 200 countries would probably just bring you some poor countries that cannot even pay proper bribery...

1

AlbrahamLincoln t1_ixqhwke wrote

We promise we won't ban stadium beer sales.

1

TomatoPolka t1_ixqjcha wrote

Italy can finally make it back!

1

illexium23 t1_ixqjvq2 wrote

I can’t believe they went on to have the World Cup in Qatar. With all the ratifications and bullshit they believe.

1

drevolut1on t1_ixqsubu wrote

I am hoping it happens, but not by FIFA. Gotta ditch that POS organization.

1

Luckcrisis t1_ixqhi8x wrote

I wonder how many workers will die and that human rights will be violated? Yay FIFA

0

TheBeatenDeadHorse t1_ixqkioz wrote

I mean all the stadiums are already built and used regularly? And none with any human rights violated?

4

1point7GPA t1_ixr6jmu wrote

This is why the countries awarded the World Cup should already have the infrastructure to handle large sporting events. People slowly forgot how Brazil did shady things when they hosted in 2014, just like Qatar has.

2

Luckcrisis t1_ixs1l84 wrote

You forgot the/s

1

TheBeatenDeadHorse t1_ixtdfku wrote

Are you good?

1

Luckcrisis t1_ixtxe2k wrote

Are you okay?

1

TheBeatenDeadHorse t1_ixxqth0 wrote

So again do you have any evidence of the 2024 WC having human rights violations? Or just “US= Bad😡 attention here please”

Because all the stadiums are already picked and built years ago and used daily and not a single protest of NFL teams playing in stadiums built with blood or anything of the sort

Edit: The sad gremlin blocked me but it seems like he’s so stupid he just keeps talking about Qatar when his comment and my initial reply were about the 2026 World Cup which has no blood on its hands nor human rights violated. So yeah just wanted attention

1

kylemesa t1_ixqp7ie wrote

How can you still support this organization knowing what you know 🤔

0

hcbaron OP t1_ixquxb1 wrote

I don't support the organization, but I support the sport. Corruption is present in pretty much all facets of our lives. It's impossible to avoid it all without severely limiting my quality of life. I do not condone corruption at all. In fact, I consider myself a grassroots activist who volunteers abd continuously draws attention to corruption, as that is the first and most important step in fighting corruption. I highly recommend "FIFA Uncovered" on Netflix, if you want to learn more about how FIFA became this corrupt. Knowing how this happened can teach us how to prevent it from happening again.

I condemn the Qatar world cup. It's the height of blatant corruption and sportswashing in soccer. So many lives lost for this cup. But I love soccer. I will not let corrupt people ruin my love for a sport, just like I won't let corrupt people ruin my commitment to build a better country. I fight on!

3

POGsMakeWorldGoRound t1_ixp02oc wrote

Meh

−1

UrbanStray t1_ixronwa wrote

There's too many countries these days. We need to start reimperialising.

−1

Phil_N_Uponya t1_ixvztzp wrote

No, this is based on them not allowing gay pride emblems. That type of wokeness. No need to reach on rape and slavery.

−1

Moskau43 t1_ixpygm2 wrote

Dreadful idea for two reasons;

  1. more massively one sided matches

  2. no one will care about the next WC

−8

OGnarl t1_ixpf72p wrote

Losers get their hands cut off according to local tradition.

−9

omdano t1_ixpoe54 wrote

I can't wait for the investigations into bribery, people speaking against shootings, against abortion laws in the USA, Guantanamo Bay, the funding of Israel, Saudi Arabia in Yemen, Cop racism and corruption etc...

But the USA has freedom of speech so... surely Germany will get to wear bands for women body rights for this one.

I mean we're not doing the Qatar stuff purely out of racism right? right guys?

Edit: I guess we aren't? ok, don't drone me, please im in a hospital, what you mean you don't care?

−13

Grouchy_Scallion1470 t1_ixpsjpg wrote

You're giving reddit (and the west) way too much credit.

Personally I hope the teams wear don't drone kids armbands.

If you're going to politicise sport, do it consistently.

1

Mesapholis t1_ixoz2jv wrote

I think the biggest show here would ne to watch me care

−19