http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38449674I'd assume when he says he has support from the Federations, he means those whose countries currently have less places because their teams aren't very good. Europe and South America won't get many more places.
Padding out the tournament with lesser sides, meaning the bigger nations will end up likely playing a 6 week tournament can't be a good idea for the players. Great for football addicts though.
Comments
In 2014... Only one side (Costa Rica) not from Europe or South America made it to the Quarter-Finals whilst in the second round there were the following: Europe (6) | South America (5) | North America (3) | Africa (2) | Asia (0) | Oceania (0)
In 2010... Only one side (Ghana) not from Europe or South America made it to the Quarter Finals whilst in the second round there were the following: Europe (6) | South America (5) | North America (2) | Asia (2) | Africa (1) | Oceania (0)
In 2006... the only sides in the Quarter-Finals were from Europe and South America whilst the teams in the second round were from the following: Europe (10) | South America (3) | North America (1) | Africa (1) | Asia (0) | Oceania (1)
*Note; Australia were part of OFC in 2016
Am sorry but until the Nations that currently Qualify from Africa / Asia etc. can compete with the usual suspects from Europe and South America there is no point in expanding the World Cup - Ivory Coast are one of the best sides in Africa but have NEVER reached the 2nd Round of the World Cup so if they cant manage it, whats the point including another African nation who the Ivory Coast / Ghana etc. would simply brush aside.
If anything I've felt for years that either Africa or Asia should lose a place and that Oceania (Usually New Zealand) should gain an automatic place... the other two confederations moan about their lack of places yet Oceania dont have a single automatic spot and have to end up playing a Play-Off tie against a side from another confederation every time!!
Where is the fairness there?
It's all about the money, money, money ......
Stuff like this actually sickens me. They want to increase the number of teams that qualify for the final stages by 50%. Why? To make the tournament better? To make it more enjoyable? To raise the standard of football?
Of course not. More matches means more TV means more money in their grubby little paws. And these people are the supposed guardians of the game? Fuckwits.
Lithuania (New Zealand)
Luxembourg (Tahiti)
Macedonia (New Caledonia)
Moldova (Papua New Guinea)
Kosovo (Fiji)
Malta (Solomon Islands)
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup they were given Mexico in the Play-Offs who understandably beat them 9-3 on agg and who went on to be unfairly knocked out by the Netherlands in the 2nd Round themselves whereas ahead of the 2018 World Cup they'll probably lose out again because they've got to play a Play-Off against the 5th placed team from South America who are currently Argentina!!
The Confederations Cup is a harder competition because you do have the best of the best... You could question how Japan and Nigeria did themselves in that same competition? (i.e. Nigeria only got a win because it came against Tahiti) whilst Japan who do well at the World Cup also finished without a single point.
Plus take a look at the past winners of the OFC Nations Cup
That Tahiti win was the first time neither New Zealand or Australia had won it
Uruguay 2-1 Nigeria
Uruguay 8-0 Tahiti
Italy 4-3 Japan
Spain 10-0 Tahiti
I think Tahiti did the worst out of those teams. Could be wrong, just what I think...
OFC is dogshit. It's lucky for them that the winner gets so close to qualification as to have a playoff. I'd probably put them into the last round of groups in Asia.
OFC is dog-turd yes I agree but thats because of the Pacific Nations, its the section that New Zealand are stuck in so are hamstrung because of that, the other option would be for them to do an Australia and join AFC and leave the Pacific Nations to it yet I dont know how easy it would be for them.
i.e. an Australia side who prior to moving couldnt win their Play-Off tie (apart from 2006) yet since moving into the AFC have qualified both in 2010 | 2014 and out of the three years they've been in the Asian Cup they've reached the Final twice (winning once) so really does raise the question; is Asian Qualifying much better than Oceania yet could have five representatives in Russia 2018.
Yes the World Cup finals are for the best teams overall. The top Asian and African teams are generally better than European teams who don't qualify. The top Oceania teams are not.
Oceania teams should have the chance to qualify, but not automatically.
A guaranteed place for an Oceania team is more ridiculous than a guaranteed place for a Caribbean island team.
They'll constantly play against each other, both sides will win but because they're not facing harder Nations they'll hit their ceiling level and wont be able to improve any better... By facing better Nations they'll know what they need to do to be better next time... i.e. Didnt Turkey get thumped 9-1 by someone back in the 80s or 90s then in 1998 they reached the Third Place match of the World Cup that year
If we were to use the FIFA rankings (I know not perfect but they do give a good general guide to a country's performance) New Zealand are currently ranked 109th, sandwiched between Mauritania and Gabon. And you want them to have an automatic qualification over someone from Africa or Asia?
They are ruining their own product. Having a 6 week tournament will be ridiculous.
Teams have shown over the years that despite being thumped 9-0 etc. one day they could be a strong team in many years to come and just because they're shite now doesnt mean they should be hamstrung anymore than they already are!!
Turkey are just one example of this...
Sixteen groups of three. Sixteen European teams (up from 13) - I'd imagine one in each group.