2022 FIFA World Cup

[Bigdog]

I find his timing troubling to say the least. What's next, the wedding on Super Bowl Sunday? You got to get your arms around this before it escalates.

Council him. Remind him that he's just one of your daughters boyfriends.

I know. To top it off my daughter who was working text me and asked me who won the game. I had to look it up on my phone and text her back. I was watching it later on she came in the room and asked why I was watching it again. I lied and told her I missed the OT because I had do something. Don’t worry this young man and I will sit down and have a talk about priorities, lol.

 

[jterrell]

I feel sorry for people that ignore this sport.
That Final was literally insane.

The athleticism, skill and coaching acumen reminded me of 49ers versus Cowboys in the early 90s.
Sublime.

 

[Flamma]

The next World Cup is going to have 48 teams. I think they are considering 16 groups of 3. That's going to suck on multiple levels. Why not just do 12 groups of 4? Or 8 groups of 6?

 

[RFABR]

The next World Cup is going to have 48 teams. I think they are considering 16 groups of 3. That's going to suck on multiple levels. Why not just do 12 groups of 4? Or 8 groups of 6?

They're gonna go with 12 groups.

By the way, this expansion is absolute s***.

 

[Flamma]

They're gonna go with 12 groups.

By the way, this expansion is absolute s***.

I guess it's for money. Like when league's keep adding playoff teams for no good reason.

 

[Flamma]

They're gonna go with 12 groups.

Everywhere I look says 16 groups of 3. It doesn't make sense.

 

[joseephuss]

Everywhere I look says 16 groups of 3. It doesn't make sense.

Yes, that was the proposed format, initially. Apparently, it hasn't been finalized and there are discussions to make it 12 groups of 4. They could end up using both formats as was done in 1982. That World Cup began with 6 groups of 4. The top two teams advanced into the second round which had 4 groups of 3. The top four teams of those groups then advanced to the knockout stage semi-finals.

I like the 4 team group format. The one drawback is that there is a potential for two teams to collude to keep another team from advancing whilst playing the third game. It has been questioned before. That question was also raised this year as to whether Spain intentionally lost to Japan to keep Germany from advancing.

From what I have read this week, any plans that were announced about 2026 can still be changed. There were only going to be 10 matches total played in Canada and Mexico. That may increase.

 

[Flamma]

Yes, that was the proposed format, initially. Apparently, it hasn't been finalized and there are discussions to make it 12 groups of 4. They could end up using both formats as was done in 1982. That World Cup began with 6 groups of 4. The top two teams advanced into the second round which had 4 groups of 3. The top four teams of those groups then advanced to the knockout stage semi-finals.

I like the 4 team group format. The one drawback is that there is a potential for two teams to collude to keep another team from advancing whilst playing the third game. It has been questioned before. That question was also raised this year as to whether Spain intentionally lost to Japan to keep Germany from advancing.

From what I have read this week, any plans that were announced about 2026 can still be changed. There were only going to be 10 matches total played in Canada and Mexico. That may increase.

They could do 8 groups of 6. Letting the top 4 teams advance. I think that's the best option. But 12 groups of 4 is good too. Anything else is just stupid.

 

[joseephuss]

They could do 8 groups of 6. Letting the top 4 teams advance. I think that's the best option. But 12 groups of 4 is good too. Anything else is just stupid.

Having groups of 6 might potentially lead to too many meaningless games in the 4th and 5th group matches. There will probably still be a few anxious moments in that final group stage matchday with three games being played at the same time, but probably not to the level of the current 4 team format. I think after the 3rd match, most groups will already know who is the top team and which already has been eliminated. The same issues exist in the current format, but I think they probably become a little more common in a 6 team format.

 

[Flamma]

Having groups of 6 might potentially lead to too many meaningless games in the 4th and 5th group matches. There will probably still be a few anxious moments in that final group stage matchday with three games being played at the same time, but probably not to the level of the current 4 team format. I think after the 3rd match, most groups will already know who is the top team and which already has been eliminated. The same issues exist in the current format, but I think they probably become a little more common in a 6 team format.

I agree. But it gives teams that might have a bad start a chance to come back. An upset and a tie in your first two matches, and you might have an early exit. Where as 5 matches, no excuse.

With 8 groups of 6, top 4 advance. Nice and easy. But I think they'll finalize with 12 groups if 4 if they have any brains in their heads. Top 2 advance, and 8 of the next best 3rd place records.

 

[jterrell]

I am going to give the new format a run through before I knock it.

Expanded playoffs in any sport have bothered me nearly zero. Long as it is win and advance you are going to get the best teams and really good match ups along the way.

I can't say I've been the biggest fan of FIFA qualifying. Teams can have a major injury or coaching change and fall so far behind they can't catch up to qualify even though they would clearly be a top 32 team come World Cup time.
Having Italy, Sweden, Colombia and Nigeria make the last world cup wouldn't have hurt my feelings one bit.

 

[jterrell]

I agree. But it gives teams that might have a bad start a chance to come back. An upset and a tie in your first two matches, and you might have an early exit. Where as 5 matches, no excuse.

With 8 groups of 6, top 4 advance. Nice and easy. But I think they'll finalize with 12 groups if 4 if they have any brains in their heads. Top 2 advance, and 8 of the next best 3rd place records.

8 groups of 6 would make the World Cup last forever. Thats not ever gonna happen.

I THINK I'd also hate the 12 groups of 4 IF they decided that many spots via tie-breakers. That would likely rob group of death even moreso than we see now.
Last thing I wanna see is a bunch of soft groups get a 3rd team.
Either give all the 1 seeds a BYE and let all 2nd plays 3rds or just boot all the 3rd seeds.

 

[Flamma]

8 groups of 6 would make the World Cup last forever. Thats not ever gonna happen.

I THINK I'd also hate the 12 groups of 4 IF they decided that many spots via tie-breakers. That would likely rob group of death even moreso than we see now.
Last thing I wanna see is a bunch of soft groups get a 3rd team.
Either give all the 1 seeds a BYE and let all 2nd plays 3rds or just boot all the 3rd seeds.

It's two extra matches for each team, plus the extra 16 teams. It's more, but I'm not sure it's forever. The top 2 from each group could advance, pretty much removing most tie breaker situations.

I do agree with the bold. But when you determine who reaches the knockout stage with so few matches, what do you expect?

 

[jterrell]

It's two extra matches for each team, plus the extra 16 teams. It's more, but I'm not sure it's forever. The top 2 from each group could advance, pretty much removing most tie breaker situations.

I do agree with the bold. But when you determine who reaches the knockout stage with so few matches, what do you expect?

It's 2 extra games per team in the portion of the tourney that already takes forever. Teams play every 4th day and that's an additional 8 days just to get to the knockouts.
Absolutely not happening.
It would murder ratings and interest.

It would also lead to more injuries and the reduced ability for meaningful upsets to occur as deeper teams would advance.
No one wants more meaningless games. Watching teams seeded 4th and 5th on group match day 5? No thanks.

 

[Flamma]

It's 2 extra games per team in the portion of the tourney that already takes forever. Teams play every 4th day and that's an additional 8 days just to get to the knockouts.
Absolutely not happening.
It would murder ratings and interest.

It would also lead to more injuries and the reduced ability for meaningful upsets to occur as deeper teams would advance.
No one wants more meaningless games. Watching teams seeded 4th and 5th on group match day 5? No thanks.

Good points. That sort of stuff never seems to bother the NFL. I guess people watch anyway.

 

[jterrell]

Good points. That sort of stuff never seems to bother the NFL. I guess people watch anyway.

NFL is single game elimination. Very different beast than a 3-week group play stage with potentially a lot of meaningless games.

 

[atlantacowboy]

The next World Cup is going to have 48 teams. I think they are considering 16 groups of 3. That's going to suck on multiple levels. Why not just do 12 groups of 4? Or 8 groups of 6?

16 groups of 3 makes no sense. But, I am glad they are expanding so we can see all the best teams. Its kinda sucks when the Euro champ , Italy, is left at home b/c they had some injuries, lost a few games, and couldn't qualify. I'd also like to see Erling Halaand get a shot. Europe is just so competitive.