Quote from: Sithara007 on Today at 07:20:33 AM

Quote from: slackovic on Today at 06:51:55 AM

They decided to change the format to slightly different from what Infantino proposed because if there were only three teams in a group, there are more chance for two teams to make an silent agreement to help each other to pass the group stage. The proposed format was that all groups consist of three teams and that two of them advance to the next round.

Personally I don't like the fact that there will be more teams in the next World Cup. What's the point to bring more teams to the World Cup? It will result in more poor games that will be unwatchable just like it was with games when Qatar played in this World Cup. It's nonsense to me...

Agreed with the first part of your post, but not with the second.

Groups of 3 teams make no sense. Even if there is no secret pact between two of the teams, such small groups will take away the excitement of teams gradually progressing to the knockout phase. Just two matches in the group phase? There is no logic here. They can make the teams play against the other two teams twice, but then it will make the tournament extremely lengthy.

Now coming to the addition in number of participants - I am a big supporter of the expansion. In fact I would actually go for 64 teams (16 groups of 4 teams each). Most exciting matches in Qatar 2022 were involving teams which would have struggled to qualify, such as Morocco, Japan, Cameroon and South Korea. I am sure that we will get a lot more upsets in 2026.

You don't agree that more nations in the World Cup will only bring more lousy games? Did you watch Qatar games in the last World Cup? It was a joke and I felt sorry for the players that played for Qatar. That kind of games will be more often when there are more teams in the World Cup. I don't have any problem in more African nations playing in the Wirld Cup but not if they can't play against stronger teams that have history playing in the World Cup. Even with the format that was in the last World Cup there were some lousy games. What's the point in having games where one team beat other by 3, 4 or more goal difference?