World Cup 2026

[Haywain]

Infantino just wants to shore up his voting base by guaranteeing a bunch of other countries who wouldn't expect to qualify for the finals a chance to appear.

He’s got a strong enough base with the four confederations whose support is already guaranteed. It’s just about making a bit more money.

 

[AlterEgo]

64 is better than 48 in that respect, but the issue becomes the sheer length of the tournament. This year its 39 days; adding another 12 teams means probably another week at least - when will the players get a summer break?

I wouldn't put it past them to absolutely cram the group stages; this WC had four games a day on some days, and if you spread the hosting across time zones it is possible to complete the group stages in the same time period. But we will have to see; FIFA aren't exactly concerned over player welfare.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I wouldn't put it past them to absolutely cram the group stages; this WC had four games a day on some days, and if you spread the hosting across time zones it is possible to complete the group stages in the same time period. But we will have to see; FIFA aren't exactly concerned over player welfare.

The next World Cup is almost all in one time zone though isnt it? And the one after that too

 

[brad465]

The next World Cup is almost all in one time zone though isnt it? And the one after that too

2030 definitely isn't; three matches are taking place in South America to mark the World Cup centenary, then Portugal and Spain are in different time zones. Morocco is currently GMT+1 but will revert to GMT soon, but without daylight saving time this will be a third time zone at the time of the tournament.

At least by being centred on or near GMT though there are very few places in the world where watching it is inconvenient; the most inconvenient time zones are across the Pacific.

 

[greatkingrat]

If it was 64 teams, there would have to be overlapping group games (not just the last round of group games). Likely some of the less attractive fixtures would not be shown on the main channels, only on BBC3/ITV4.

 

[DarloRich]

Infantino just wants to shore up his voting base by guaranteeing a bunch of other countries who wouldn't expect to qualify for the finals a chance to appear.

absolutely - that and gathering more coin

 

[HSTEd]

If it was 64 teams, there would have to be overlapping group games (not just the last round of group games). Likely some of the less attractive fixtures would not be shown on the main channels, only on BBC3/ITV4.

Well main channels in Britain could show at least three games at once (BBC 1 and 2, ITV), although I am not sure if that would truly have much meaning in the digital world.

The BBC and ITV could also do what the BBC did for the 2012 Olympics and run the whole thing through "red button" with as many temporary channels as necessary.

Each group game only really needs ~2hr30 of broadcast to catch everything and allow for some buildup, so you could also just stagger them more.

 

[Northumbriana]

I wonder if UEFA and it's members would dare to withdraw from FIFA and stage a new tournament?

 

[Tetchytyke]

The current World Cup had 12 groups of 4, for 64 teams you'd need 16 groups of 4. Each group has 6 games so you'd be adding 24 extra games to a tournament.

The group stage at this World Cup took 16 days. As the last round of group fixtures have to be played at the same time in each group, you'd probably only have to extend the tournament by 2-3 days. Four matches in one day should be doable- 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm kickoffs would seem reasonable enough.

I'd rather go back to 32 teams but, as that's unlikely, I'd have to say that 64 teams is better than 48.

 

[gg1]

I wonder if UEFA and it's members would dare to withdraw from FIFA and stage a new tournament?

That's the path we seem to be heading towards at the moment, and such a split would harm FIFA far more than UEFA.

In order to head off that possibility and placate an increasingly aggravated UEFA, I've a feeling FIFA will award a significant chunk of the additional world cup spots to Europe.

In the run up to the expansion from 32 to 48 team, FIFA made a point of criticising the high European representation in the world cup, leading up to awarding only 3 of the additional spots to European qualifiers. This time around I wouldn't be at all surprised to see 6-8 of the additional slots going Europe

 

[SuspectUsual]

I wonder if UEFA and it's members would dare to withdraw from FIFA and stage a new tournament?

Perhaps they could call it the Euros?

 

[Broucek]

Euros plus invited guests? Brazil, Argentina, Cape Verde, Mexico?

 

[najaB]

Perhaps they could call it the Euros?

Nah. That would clash with the... ah, see what you did there.

Euros plus invited guests? Brazil, Argentina, Cape Verde, Mexico?

If Australia can be in Eurovision and the UK can be in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership...

 

[D1511]

Spain are looking pretty impressive.....apart from Cucurella of course, who is an idiot.
But they're by far the best team in the tournament, both with and without the ball so far.......but there's still a half for France to show up. Trouble is, Spain are just suffocating them with their intense press and France can't keep hold of the ball.
I wonder if Spain will tire, and France will get more of a grip on the game as it goes on.
I'm enjoying this match, and Spain have already played more nice football than we'll see tomorrow!
Bring on the 2nd half!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Spain are looking pretty impressive.....apart from Cucurella of course, who is an idiot.
But they're by far the best team in the tournament, both with and without the ball so far.......but there's still a half for France to show up. Trouble is, Spain are just suffocating them with their intense press and France can't keep hold of the ball.
I wonder if Spain will tire, and France will get more of a grip on the game as it goes on.
I'm enjoying this match, and Spain have already played more nice football than we'll see tomorrow!
Bring on the 2nd half!

I’ve been impressed with Porro this World Cup, although obviously he still has 45 minutes to go full Spursy

 

[D1511]

I’ve been impressed with Porro this World Cup, although obviously he still has 45 minutes to go full Spursy

Very composed finish from him!

 

[AlterEgo]

Spain are looking pretty impressive.....apart from Cucurella of course, who is an idiot.

He's been the main reason France haven't had a sniff. He's having a great game so far.

 

[D1511]

He's been the main reason France haven't had a sniff.

That's the funniest thing I've read on here in a while!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jul 2026 ==

Dani Olmo has been superb. The whole Spanish midfield has been just so dominant.
Battle of the runners up tomorrow!

 

[AlterEgo]

That's the funniest thing I've read on here in a while!

Olise got subbed having done nothing at all despite being one of the players of the tournament. The substitution took a while as he had to crawl out of Cucurella's pocket. Outstanding positional play.

And there he is again with a goal saving tackle.

 

[JD2168]

Spain have deservedly beaten France 2-0 in a Bastillle Day horror show from France.

France had a number of players who failed to show up & played very poorly, they put in their worst performances of the tournament in the biggest match so far. Lucas Digne had a nightmare against Lamine Yamal & Kylian Mbappe & Ousmane Dembele pretty much failed to turn up.

Spain were excellent in comparison with their players controlling the game from start to finish, the midfield ran the game & the defence was hardly troubled

 

[SuspectUsual]

Porro and Cucarella have both been poor players in very poor teams all season. Now they’re very good players in an excellent team. Shows how much depends on the people around you.

 

[brad465]

If England face this Spain side, we're screwed. If Argentina face Spain, FIFA are going to attempt an almighty level of corruption that makes all previous corruption look tepid.

 

[Haywain]

France had a number of players who failed to show up & played very poorly,

A number? All 16 of them.

 

[DarloRich]

I’ve been impressed with Porro this World Cup, although obviously he still has 45 minutes to go full Spursy

an absolute disgrace at Spuds last season and playing like a world class player with Spain. Football and footballers are funny!

Spain are looking pretty impressive.....apart from Cucurella of course, who is an idiot.

I don't like his sideshow bob hair or his Chelseaness but he had a great game. See above. Terrible season, great for Spain.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The weird thing is France didn’t really try a plan B, just plan A with different players. It wasn’t working and repeating it meant it still didn’t work.

They had Matete on the bench so could have chucked him on and gone more physical and direct against a Spanish defence that isn’t particularly tall or physical

But then I’ve never managed at any level higher than Warley Rangers U14s

 

[johntea]

Had to check at one point I was tuned into the semi final and not playing a recording of a group stage game, France were virtually invisible throughout!

 

[D1511]

Porro and Cucarella have both been poor players in very poor teams all season. Now they’re very good players in an excellent team. Shows how much depends on the people around you.

Cucurella is still a red card waiting to happen. He was booked today for a stupid foul with his opponent going nowhere, and then needlessly got involved in a tussle over a throw in on the half way line about 15 mins afterwards. He cleared up quite well when France managed to get through the Spanish midfield, but it was so rarely that they did, he was hardly tested.
Rodri, Olmo, Oyarzabal, Ruiz.....all outstanding.

 

[43096]

Cucurella is still a red card waiting to happen. He was booked today for a stupid foul with his opponent going nowhere, and then needlessly got involved in a tussle over a throw in on the half way line about 15 mins afterwards.

Cucurella is one of those players who it is very easy to take an instant dislike to. Shame he didn't get a second yellow to miss the final.

 

[AlterEgo]

Had to check at one point I was tuned into the semi final and not playing a recording of a group stage game, France were virtually invisible throughout!

None of their forwards turned up - very disappointing. But Spain made that happen; they were well organised and motivated and sucked all the space out of the midfield and wide areas.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I thought that Rodri had an excellent match performance.