Yipe agree it’s a very interesting development. UEFA and CONMEBOL going as far as to open a joint office in London, is definitely a warning to FIFA.
But I’d say many smaller nations like NZ who only sporadically get to WCs, will in the cold financial light of day be much looking forward to a 48 team WC, and extra 16 spots getting $10M each or whatever. Even OFC as a whole with 1 spot locked in plus 2nd team going into an extra qualifying tourney - will be a fan. I doubt even FIFA has enough cash to give all approx 200 nations who start WC qualifying $10M a pop
Again at the risk of being a broken record, just hope some sort of joint AFC/OFC Nations League might now might be on the table that biennial WC appears dead. FIFA to basically tell AFC to split for a NL and add OFC to East Asia. Again with no change to the normal AFC and OFC WC qualifying process that happens last 2 years in a WC cycle
But I’d say many smaller nations like NZ who only sporadically get to WCs, will in the cold financial light of day be much looking forward to a 48 team WC, and extra 16 spots getting $10M each or whatever. Even OFC as a whole with 1 spot locked in plus 2nd team going into an extra qualifying tourney - will be a fan. I doubt even FIFA has enough cash to give all approx 200 nations who start WC qualifying $10M a pop
Again at the risk of being a broken record, just hope some sort of joint AFC/OFC Nations League might now might be on the table that biennial WC appears dead. FIFA to basically tell AFC to split for a NL and add OFC to East Asia. Again with no change to the normal AFC and OFC WC qualifying process that happens last 2 years in a WC cycle