I think a format that solves most problems is 12 groups of four, with only the top two in each group advancing (so only 24 teams go to the knockout phase)--no third place teams. Of these 24 teams, the 9th-24th best go into a 16-team first round, with the 8 winners moving on to play the top 8 group winners (based on points), who will have been given a bye into a 16-team second round.
This puts the total number of games in the World Cup at 96 (instead of 104), keeps it so only second-place teams advance, and reduces those final round conflicts of interest in the group phase.
A 64-team World Cup would make qualifying almost meaningless. The whole “octo” would go through from CONCACAF? 6 of the 8? It’d certainly give FIFA what they want - $ - but at the expense of the game.
But if it goes through, you could condense scheduling by just having each group play all its games at the same time, like the final group games are scheduled now.
I think a format that solves most problems is 12 groups of four, with only the top two in each group advancing (so only 24 teams go to the knockout phase)--no third place teams. Of these 24 teams, the 9th-24th best go into a 16-team first round, with the 8 winners moving on to play the top 8 group winners (based on points), who will have been given a bye into a 16-team second round.
This puts the total number of games in the World Cup at 96 (instead of 104), keeps it so only second-place teams advance, and reduces those final round conflicts of interest in the group phase.
A 64-team World Cup would make qualifying almost meaningless. The whole “octo” would go through from CONCACAF? 6 of the 8? It’d certainly give FIFA what they want - $ - but at the expense of the game.
But if it goes through, you could condense scheduling by just having each group play all its games at the same time, like the final group games are scheduled now.
Great news