History for Marto

From a global football purists point of view you'd keep the tournament at 32. It's perfect. A month of heaven with (mostly) close games with participants there on merit- no because there's no one else. That's what gives the WC it's unique position as the only real WC going. 32 is also good as the draw allows for no manipulation of final group stage games as they are played concurrently. 

However from an NZF perspective 40 teams with direct qualification (or even a playoff v Asia each time for a slot) would be great for the following reasons:  

1) Neutral sportspeople pay NO attention to "friendlies" as they are bred on "test" rugby and cricket. Eg a test match between the ABs and USA, Samoa or even Scotland where we play a B Team and the opposition have no chance of winning is still considered a more meaningful game than a friendly. Even the confeds cup or WC Ocenaia qualifiers isn't understood or given any weight by Joe Public. It's the WC or bust. So if the vision for NZF is to have an All Whites side that the public of NZ truly engage with then it's pretty simple- get them to the WC any way you can.

2) Having more WC appearances and a greater profile for the All Whites will seriously help fund the game in NZ through the prize money and sponsorship from having more profile. NZF arguably has the second best captive market of any sport in NZ behind rugby as its a middle- high income sport. It's ridiculous how much latent funding is just sitting there being spent in cricket, rowing, golf etc. To unlock it the AWs need to be playing in WCs and at home against teams the public see playing in the WC rather than the current crop of teams we have played. This requires spending money but if oubwnat to achieveteh aforementoned vision then it's the only way. It would also have spinoffs for the ASB Prem and women's game. 

So NZF need to be getting into Asia or confident about this expanded WC  - otherwise they are wasting their time.