If it gets us there, we’re not going to complain.
CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, has asked FIFA to expand the World Cup from 32 teams to 48, starting with the 2022 tournament.
According to reports on Thursday, CONMEBOL has requested that a planned expansion for the quadrennial football tournament in 2026 be brought forward by four years.
Five CONMEBOL teams – Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Peru – will compete at this year’s World Cup in Russia, with Chile and Ecuador among those missing out on qualification.
FIFA last expanded the World Cup in 1998, when the 24-team tournament was increased to 32. With a 48-team event, we’re looking at the possibility of 16 three-team groups and a total of 80 games.
A tweet from the CONMEBOL official account said: “CONMEBOL, through its president Alejandro Dominguez and with the support of its 10 member associations, has formally requested that FIFA president Gianni Infantino implement, from the 2022 World Cup onwards, an increase from 32 participating teams to 48.”
“There are companies that are interested and that is a good sign that there is interest,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
The long and short of it is that, with 48 teams to qualify, the Republic of Ireland have a stronger chance of making the World Cup. With more spots available to European nations, there is a stronger possibility of seeing Ireland at the World Cup in four years, 20 years on from their last appearance.
The idea of a 48-team World Cup gives us a headache. It will be convoluted and exhaustive, sure, but if it boosts the Boys in Green’s chances of making Qatar – that shimmering Middle Eastern footballing metropolis – then we’re in favour.
