In reply to: World Cup 2026 is expanding to 48 teams posted by miamioh_irishfan
floated?
More games, more stadiums needed.
Makes no sense. Mexico has the largest soccer stadium in the hemisphere, why not use that? Plus Guadalajara is the nicest soccer stadium in the hemisphere? Oh, wait, we're talking about FIFA, so it's straight cash $$$ they care about.
was Neil Barnett and Charlie Stilitano as the Football Show hosts. Charlie admitted US getting 2026 as backroom deals on the FIFA indictments and such.
Pretty bold statement to make for Charlie.
The CFB arms race ensures that even CFB fields will get a look.
though there are lots of overlapping metro areas.
And some metro areas that will be non starters.
I suspect that there will only be 16 sites used (one for each group). Placement will largely correspond to metro areas.
1. New York (Metlife; grass could be paletized, 82,500)
2. LA (Rosebowl (92,542))
3. Chicago (Soldiers Field (61K)
4. DFW (Jerry's World 80,000; grass could be paletized)
5. Houston (NRG Stadium)
6. Baltimore/Washington (FedEx Field 82,000)
7. Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial 68,532)
8. Miami (Hard Rock 65,326)
9. Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium ?????, grass could be paletized)
10. Boston (Gillette 68,756)
11. SFO (Levi 68,500)
12. Phoenix (Sun Devil 73,378 or UoP 63,400)
13. Detroit (Ford Field 65,000 grass could be paletized, or Spartan Stadium 75K, or Michigan Stadium 108K, grass could be paletized)
14. Seattle (Husky Stadium 72,500, grass could be paletized or CenturyLink 67,000, grass could be paletized)
15. MSP (US Bank 66K, grass could be paletized)
-- Could see 4 NE cooridor sites reduced to 2 or 3.
16. San Diego (Qualcomm 71,294)
17. Tampa
18. Denver
19. Baltimore
20. Charlotte
Lots of options without having to go to far a field college stadia like Bever or Neyland).
Giants Stadium and Pontiac Stadium. They also used Orlando, which had grass then but FieldTurf now.
In Arizona, only U. of Phoenix Stadium is a realistic option. They're not going to play Cup games outdoors in 100+ temperatures, not even at night.
Baltimore's football stadium went back to grass this year, so it could host. The Redskins might have a new stadium in DC by 2026.
Cleveland didn't host in 1994, as the Mistake by the Lake was still in use. It could host in 2026. Pittsburgh is another possibility, as is Columbus (Ohio Stadium, which would need palletized grass).
When the Crew were playing there, they had the narrowest field in MLS.
But I would expect them to stick with large stadia in major metro areas and not venture into college stadiums.
I would expect no more than 16 sites, though LA could certainly host two pods. And Baltimore-Washington could also easily host two pods.
I'd be shocked to see Cleveland and Pittsburgh get games at the expense of other larger metro areas.
I think they would struggle to sell 108K tickets for two group round matches.
Ii'm sure there's enough CFB stadiums with grass in the south to get the job done.
Isn't that the logic against expanding playoffs?
The WC is a regular season -> postseason system after all. Will it hurt interest in the Hex? I know Ireland was big on WC qualifying matches and they probably still will be just with a slightly better chance of getting in.
qualifying could be merged into one competition.
Clearly a lot of the details around who gets the extra spots, and how qualifying will work need to be worked out.
I think it will make our qualification harder than it is now...but so much more fun. And the increase in spots should still ensure qualification whenever we deserve it.
with the expanded field, but the event itself is going to be boring. Three team groups (or, god forbid, shootouts in the group stage) will kill the event.
I really think they should get it to 64 if only to maintain the competitive construct in the Finals.
I still remember when he said how sad he was because the Qatar (or Russia?) decision would likely mean he'd never see another WC in the USA in his lifetime.
What a fucking sad post...I'm too young to contemplate my own mortality and stuff like that. Don't depress me like that sherm! YOu'll be there brother and I'm sure there will be at least 10 matches in your backyard.
But the actuarial tables are in my favor if the US hosts the 2026 Cup. And contrary to what I apparently assumed in that earlier post (which you appear to recall better than I do), it now seems quite likely that the US will host in 2026, unless FIFA changes its rules again to make European nations eligible to host that year (as of now they can't host until 2030). Given the super-sized Cup, I suspect FIFA won't change its rules to keep the Cup out of the US. (They also might want to curry favor with prosecutors.) All 80 matches will sell out and many will get gigantic TV ratings.