But there's going to be loads more

Ironically a 64 team world cup would be better as it could just be the top two in every group.

With most third placed teams qualifying there's a risk it's all pretty boring at the end of the groups.

And then with so many bad teams (and seeding so they play the best teams) making it through to the first knock out round then they won't be very interesting either.

On my current predictions (could be made more interesting if we get some upsets in the group stages) I'm not expecting any close games in the first knockout.

First truly competitive game looks set to be England v Mexico.

Posted By: Kangol Canary on June 12th 2026 at 10:03:57

Message Thread

In defence of the 48 team world cup (Other Football) - Knitted Jesus, Jun 12, 09:47:23
- But there's going to be loads more (Other Football) - Kangol Canary, Jun 12, 10:03:57
  - third placed teams ... (Other Football) - ghostof barry butler, Jun 12, 10:26:04
    - The last time 3rd place qualified in the World Cup was 1994 (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:28:32
      - i stand corrected (Other Football) - ghostof barry butler, Jun 12, 10:40:02
      - Must have been the Euros (n/m) (Other Football) - jamesward, Jun 12, 10:39:53
        
        👍🏻 (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:44:01
        
        i think thats where my perception come from ... (Other Football) - ghostof barry butler, Jun 12, 10:42:35
  - There will be fewer upsets as so many teams get out of the group stages (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Jun 12, 10:25:01
  - Really??? (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:24:22
    - That's not what I meant (Other Football) - Kangol Canary, Jun 12, 17:15:01
    - I mean... there's an excellent game tomorrow for example (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:33:34
  - love that we (myself included) all seem to be assuming that England will win our group (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jun 12, 10:08:27
    - I'm half expecting us to lose against Croatia, finish second in the group, but shocks (Other Football) - The Gaffer, Jun 12, 10:26:09
      - Lump on Cape Verde and Curacao then (Other Football) - Kangol Canary, Jun 12, 17:17:14
    - No way we have got worse (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:26:01
      - defensively i think we look weak ... (Other Football) - ghostof barry butler, Jun 12, 10:44:57
        
        Yes, that's possibly the biggest area of concern. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:46:26
      - I think we always tell ourselves we have a better squad this time (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jun 12, 10:30:40
        
        Maybe, but perhaps the opposite is true and we romanticise how good we were before (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Jun 12, 11:58:09
        
        Hopeful about Saka (Other Football) - jamesward, Jun 12, 10:42:09
        
        ..... (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jun 12, 10:46:31
        
        Oh (n/m) (Other Football) - jamesward, Jun 12, 10:56:15
        
        Feels like a properly drama free build up too. No injuries and even Bellingham is saying (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:45:55
        
        Maybe it’s better because he’s being less of an arrogant bellend (n/m) (Other Football) - jamesward, Jun 12, 10:57:00
        
        Indeed (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 11:19:30
        
        Kane's the best striker in the world. His numbers are ridiculous. (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:32:32
        
        yup, agreed on both counts. (n/m) (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jun 12, 10:42:09
    - Ghana are no mugs either (Other Football) - Kangol Canary, Jun 12, 10:24:34
      - No mugs, but not competitive (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 12, 10:27:05
    - I wouldn't say we've got worse (n/m) (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Jun 12, 10:19:48

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