NI boss O’Neill wants bigger World Cups

NORTHERN IRELAND manager Michael O’Neill has backed plans for a 48team World Cup – but believes an extra playoff round is needed to give European countries a fair chance.

O’Neill, who is trying to steer Northern Ireland to their first World Cup since Mexico ’86, claims that Concacaf nations have an advantage in reaching the finals.

The number of teams will increase from 32 to 48 from the 2026 tournament under proposals ratified by Fifa in January.

‘Everything around that says it’s good to have extended formats,’ said O’Neill. ‘I’m not against a bigger World Cup because it gives Northern Ireland a better chance.

‘But when you see how some countries sail into the World Cup and others miss out, it’s a bit galling. In the last World Cup, Mexico won two games out of qualification and had three draws and still got a play-off against New Zealand.

‘Whereas you could finish second in our group and we don’t even get a shot at it.

‘I think there needs to be a middle stage in terms of qualification – almost a global point. Some really big countries in Europe miss out and some countries in Concacaf always qualify.

‘Qualifying through Europe is the most difficult. We are in an era where players are flying back to South America from Europe to play in qualifiers, so could we have that scenario where a third-placed team in a Euro group plays off against someone from another part of the world?

‘Groups finish in October and you still have until the following June so you could fit something in during that time.’