World Cup with 48 teams

The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate that it is possible to have a World Cup interesting and competitive with 48 teams. The teams participating in the World Cup would be divided into 8 groups of 6 teams.

The top two in each group would qualify for the Round of 16.

The games of the Round of 16, Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals would be carried out according to the following tables:

A team to be champion would have to dispute 8 matches. Just one more than the current reality.

This new format would allow each team to play at least 5 matches before leaving the World Cup. Instead to the current situation, which after three matches can say goodbye to the World Cup. This would mean that the World Cup would have more television audiences, since each team would stay longer in the competition (television rights increase also).
We will be able to watch more competitive games with teams representing more regions of the world. It is important that all the continents of the world are represented in the World Cup.

With this new format the teams that would qualify for the round of 16, are in fact the best. Contrary to what currently happens, in which a team played 3 matches and only needed to rank in the top two in a group of 4 to continue in the competition.  Now, a team would have to play 5 matches and be in the top two in a group of 6 teams.

With this new format, each team could not play every game with the same 11 players. The teams would have to play with all players at their disposal, which would make the World Cup more interesting and competitive. The World Cup Champion would be the team with the best set of players and not only 11.