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FIFA watered down the World Cup with the expansion to 48 teams
Posted on 6/15/26 at 7:56 am
Posted on 6/15/26 at 7:56 am
So many uninteresting games. With 8 of the 12 third-place teams advancing, the urgency is gone. Teams can stumble through the group stage and still move on, which makes too many matches feel meaningless and far less compelling than when every point truly mattered.
I'm sure FIFA is making a lot more money, so they will just pat each other on the back.
I'm sure FIFA is making a lot more money, so they will just pat each other on the back.
This post was edited on 6/15/26 at 7:57 am
10
Posted on 6/15/26 at 8:09 am to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
Yeah it’s crap. Tons of crapper match ups. The worst part about it is it makes it almost impossible for a big name to get eliminated in the group stage. Last World Cup Germany and Belgium got left in the group stage. It’s happened to England and Spain in 2014. Now every group has a rent a win in it and the big dog isn’t going to finish 4th in the group.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 8:39 am to The Boat
This is going to kill the send-off matches. No point in a tune-up when you can just warm up against Curacao or Cape Verde.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 8:55 am to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
I have bitched about the expanded World Cup since it was announced. I said I would hate that they are watering down the competition. However, I am part of the problem. I love having games on all day. I'll be tuned into these shite games today, and FIFA will see the great ratings and think this was a great idea.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 8:56 am to The Boat
quote:
The worst part about it is it makes it almost impossible for a big name to get eliminated in the group stage.
You have to account for round of 32 now, which wasn't there before. I'm sure some big names will be eliminated then.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 9:09 am to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
I don't disagree with your overall point but there have been some great games outside of the 3 or 4 blow outs.
Just to name a few, the Netherlands vs Japan yesterday was a hell of a game, Australia upsetting Turkey was fun, stoppage time Qatari goal to draw the Swiss was exciting, and watching Haiti push Scotland in the second half was fun.
Just to name a few, the Netherlands vs Japan yesterday was a hell of a game, Australia upsetting Turkey was fun, stoppage time Qatari goal to draw the Swiss was exciting, and watching Haiti push Scotland in the second half was fun.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 12:31 pm to RockChalkTiger
quote:
No point in a tune-up when you can just warm up against Curacao or Cape Verde.
Posting this during the 2nd half hyd break of Spain and Cape Verde:
Not aging well.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 12:32 pm to bstaceyau19
I'll never complain about more games, and the current format means the US should never not advance from the group in any WC. At least in my opinion.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 12:32 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
quote:list them
So many uninteresting games.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 12:47 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
Soccer isn’t that exciting, but I like the World Cup. Give me more teams.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:01 pm to BZ504
Expanded Cup just gave us this incredible Cape Verde result.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:03 pm to BZ504
quote:Agreed. There are some competitions where expansion is just stupid, but when it's a competition for literally the entire world I don't think 48 teams is some insane number.
I like the World Cup. Give me more teams.
This post was edited on 6/15/26 at 1:05 pm
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:05 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
Like I said in the other thread, there's nothing wrong with expanding the "World" Cup.
The issue is expanding it to a weird arse number like 48.
If they wanted a Round of 32, they should've just expanded it to 64 where you have 16 groups of 4 and the top two advance. With 48, the group stage is largely pointless for the amount of matches that are being played to eliminate less than half the field.
The issue is expanding it to a weird arse number like 48.
If they wanted a Round of 32, they should've just expanded it to 64 where you have 16 groups of 4 and the top two advance. With 48, the group stage is largely pointless for the amount of matches that are being played to eliminate less than half the field.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:08 pm to castorinho
quote:
So many uninteresting games.
list them
I haven't found them uninteresting but they're definitely a lot less meaningful.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:11 pm to bbap
quote:That's more of an issue with them wanting a round of 32 in a 48 team tournament for some reason. I think expansion was fine but the format is weird as hell.
I haven't found them uninteresting but they're definitely a lot less meaningful.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:11 pm to bbap
quote:
I haven't found them uninteresting but they're definitely a lot less meaningful.
And that has more to do with how the group stage format currently is set up as opposed the teams that are in.
Expand the tournament to 64 and go back to only having the top 2 group teams advance, then those matches become more meaningful again.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:12 pm to Broski
Yeah i'd be fine with that but they'd probably need more than 4 games a day. The tournament being almost 6 weeks long is already too long imo. Adding 16 more teams and more days of group stage games makes it even longer.
This post was edited on 6/15/26 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:17 pm to bbap
quote:
Yeah i'd be fine with that but they'd probably need more than 4 games a day.
Yep, you play two groups and half a group per day where you'd have one window where two matches are going on at once.
This post was edited on 6/15/26 at 1:18 pm
Posted on 6/15/26 at 1:19 pm to bbap
quote:That's fair. But an (un)intended consequence is that you'll also end up having some crazy matchups in the second round because of the nonchalance of some of the top teams that may cost them the group.
but they're definitely a lot less meaningful.
Posted on 6/15/26 at 7:10 pm to castorinho
Yeah, I’m not sure “meaningful” is the right word. Sure, it’s less likely for a giant (like Germany) to get knocked out in the group, but it’s not impossible. It’s not like you can just show up, play uninspired, and be guaranteed to reach the Rd of 32. If Spain plays like they did today, they could be in trouble. I do think you’ll get some juicy Rd32 match ups
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