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How can the World Cup be Improved? Go back to 16!

April 11th, 2006 | By: Afshin Afshar | 7 Comments »

Bob in his Big Question asks how the World Cup can be improved. He offers a few possibilities, and they are all good. But I want to add another one, and then run for cover!

I say roll the clock back to the days that we had only 16 countries qualifying! Yes, reduce the number of teams that participate in the World Cup.

Who cares about all these boring games between countries which don’t even have a legitimate professional league?

Let’s be honest, would you be watching an Iran game this summer if you were not Portuguese, Mexican, or Angolan, or you did not have a bunch of Iranian friends? Of course not!

I tell you right now; I would not care to watch at least a quarter of the games in the group stage. I’ll watch them only they will be the best show on TV this summer, which is in itself a sad statement for the state of TV programming these days.

Doubling the number of teams was nothing but a money making ploy by FIFA.

How many of you remember Saudi Arabia vs. Morocco in 1994? Not many, unless you are a Saudi or Moroccan.

Come on! Reduce the quantity and give me more quality please!

Tags: Big Question, Bob, FIFA, Iran, Team Melli

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Comments

By Luis Carlos | April 11th, 2006 at 2:47 am

Wow:

I mean you said it. Iran is only in the World Cup, because their are 32 teams. That is an insult to Uruguay, Nigeria, Cameroon, and all the other great teams that didn’t make it.

Lets move the numbers to 40!!!! That way, we can see Brazil B team in the world cup

Posted from Mexico

By plashch | April 11th, 2006 at 5:35 am

I remember Saudi Arabia vs. Morocco very well. It featured an off-the-scale 20 minutes or so by Morocco’s left winger Ahmed Bahja, who turned his defender inside out about a million times, and set up a goal for Mohammed Chaouch. A classic performance, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Posted from United States

By How Can The World Cup Be Improved? - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Trinidad and Tobago World Cup Team Blog | April 11th, 2006 at 6:42 am

[...] Over on the Iran blog, my fellow blogger Afshin Afshar thinks the World Cup needs to return to its 16 team format. Says he: “Who cares about all these boring games between countries which don’t even have a legitimate professional league?” [...]

Posted from United States

By Afshin Afshar | April 11th, 2006 at 8:56 am

Luis Carlos: Maybr, maybe not! Iran was there in 1978 when there were only 16 teams in the World Cup.

Posted from United States

By Afshin Afshar | April 11th, 2006 at 8:59 am

plashch: I was there in the The Meadowlands (Giant stadium) watching the game that day, and I don’t care to remember much of it! I also watch Bulgaria beat Germany there. I still remember most of it!

Posted from United States

By plashch | April 11th, 2006 at 2:26 pm

Hi, Afshin. I’ll allow that Bulgaria-Germany was a more memorable game than Saudi Arabia-Morocco. Remember, though, it was a quarterfinal, played at a more dramatic stage of the tournament. My point is that even the obscure games have moments of brilliance, moments that those who watch will remember. (And conversely, games with better-known teams can be dreadful. The worst World Cup game I’ve ever seen was between England and Ireland in 1990.)

I prefer 32 to 16 because football excellence has expanded to the point where 16 leaves out too many good sides. Right now I’d say the ideal number is around 24, but as we know that leads to a very awkward tournament setup. Given the choice, I’d rather be more inclusive. You never know when another Ahmed Bahja performance will turn up.

Posted from United States

By Bob | April 11th, 2006 at 2:49 pm

I like having a 32 team field. It gives me a reason to learn about places like Angola and Togo. Generally speaking the top teams advance to the round of 16 any way. Why not let the minnows have their moment in the sun? Great upsets can be more exciting than a match between two favorites anyway.

Posted from United States

By Afshin Afshar | April 11th, 2006 at 2:56 pm

Hi plashch and Bob: We all know that there is no winning formula. Your points are all well taken.
plashch: I have a confession to make. I went to that game heavily favoring Morocco and was upset to see them loose. So perhaps I would have rememberd the game much better if it had turned out my way!