This is more likely than people want to admit since it would only add 24 matches (all group stage). The bigger jump was 32 to 48 teams which added 40 matches (24 group + 16 knockout)

Most importantly, the path to the final is still 3 group + 5 knockout

Even Pot 1 teams would prefer this to 48. Easier group stages and R32s plus less wear and tear since most Matchday 3s would turn into full lineup rotation because they'll almost always be sitting on 6 points

It's gonna happen baws. Just a matter of 2030 or 2034

On the plus side, it increases our hosting frequency considerably because we're going to be the only country that can reliably host the damn thing

This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 10:06 pm

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Posted by Who_Dat_Tiger

Member since Nov 2015

26056 posts

Posted on 7/13/26 at 4:15 pm to SabiDojo

quote:
Me in 2030 watching Honduras vs Vatican City:

tbf if we expanded to 64 teams for this World Cup the most laughable nations included would’ve still been Curaçao and Uzbekistan

Other smaller nations but still serviceable that would’ve qualified based on WCQs and mocked would’ve been Northern Ireland, Kosovo… otherwise no issue with Italy, Bolivia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Gabon, Cameroon, Ukraine, etc.

Point is it’s not going to be any more watered down than it is already. ***as long as a 2nd auto-qualifying spot isn’t given to Oceania. We don’t need to see Tahiti or New Caledonia getting shellacked by a dozen goals. Hell I still remember watching Saudi Arabia getting shellacked 8-0 by Germany live in 2002. Haven’t seen anything as bad since anyway including this year with 48 teams

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Posted by sgallo3

Lake Charles

Member since Sep 2008

27951 posts

Posted on 7/13/26 at 9:13 pm to Who_Dat_Tiger

after having a lot of fun watching Cape Verde this world cup I say bring on more teams. it wouldn't change knockouts and we wouldn't have the dumb 3rd place team stuff.

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Posted by danilo

Member since Nov 2008

26130 posts

Posted on 7/13/26 at 9:34 pm to RLDSC FAN

So San Marino might have a chance!

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Posted by rt3

now in the piney woods of Pineville

Member since Apr 2011

147782 posts

Posted on 7/14/26 at 4:53 pm to RLDSC FAN

Somehow Italy will still frick up & fail to qualify

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Posted by chalmetteowl

Chalmette

Member since Jan 2008

55165 posts

Posted on 7/15/26 at 9:04 am to Kansas City King

quote:
Pointless. Even after expanding to 32 teams, the top 4 pre-tournament favorites all made it to the final four. Boooring

That means you’re getting the best possible semis and Final

quote:
*as long as a 2nd auto-qualifying spot isn’t given to Oceania

It’s the WORLD cup, not the European and South American Cup. If it was me, during a World Cup, I would have invited every nation in the world to come and play friendlies even if they didn’t qualify just so they could soak in the atmosphere…

This post was edited on 7/15/26 at 9:12 am

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