Sound of Football Podcast 284 - Super-sized World Cup

FIFA's decision this month to expand the World Cup finals from 32 teams to 48 teams for 2026 has sparked controversy. Many commentators have suggested that the motivation behind the expansion is purely financial, but is that reason enough for it to be a "bad decision"?

How will the new format work in practice? Does the system of three team groups leave the competition open for abuses and collusion between sides? In addition to their own opinions on the expansion, Graham, Terry and Jan test the new format using game theory, with their very own thought experiment — "Colludo"™.

For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog.

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