Why a 48-team World Cup finals is so bad for the game as a whole

IN these gloomy times, anything that improves Scotland’s chances of making it to a major finals can look attractive, but let us not be fooled by FIFA’s plan to change the World Cup to a 40- or 48-team competition.

The concept of starting with playoffs involving 32 unseeded teams is dreadful, in itself. Imagine going through the agonies of qualifying and saving up to travel to North Korea or Zimbabwe – or whatever unsuitable nation is awarded it next – and requiring a plane home after one match.

Euro 2016 was spoiled by the expansion to 32 teams with the UEFA move to host Euro 2020 in 13 different countries a costly logistical nightmare for supporters.

It is tempting to regard all this ‘spreading the wealth’ as a scheme to secure votes. It is certainly a good revenue-generating exercise, but no good for the game as a whole.