How will the Mexicans get across the border?

Well you'd assume that it won't matter for any game except possibly the final, which the USA will no doubt demand is in America, as they'll play at home.

Optimistic as ever

You misunderstood. I meant they'll demand the venue for the final will be in the USA, not that they will make it to it.

i.e. Mexico would only have to cross the border if they got to the final.

Optimistic as ever

Stuk, I agree that the teams playing the final game in a group of 3 can engineer the result, but only if 2 teams go through to the next round, of course. Where only 1 team goes through - as was the case in the 2nd round of 1982 - there will be no engineering of the final game, unless (say) team A wants team B to qualify.

I think you mentioned Austria v Germany purely as an example of an engineered game, so I'm not - repeat NOT - saying you are wrong, however for the record (for the purists out there) that game was an engineered 1-0 victory for West Germany in a 4 team 1st round group, which ensured that West Germany won the group and Austria came second, both on goal difference at the expense of Algeria.

Algeria therefore were eliminated after winning 2 of their 3 group games, including beating West Germany! If I recall correctly, Rachid Harkouk was in their team.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

But 2 teams will be going through from each group if that is the format, to leave 32 teams for the first knockout game.

Optimistic as ever

I am not keen on the 48 team format because FIFA are watering down the competition. Most of the extra places will go to weaker footballing nations.

UEFA is by far the strongest region and currently fill 20 of the top 32 teams according to FIFA rankings. I appreciate that FIFA are trying to grow the game but it will mean that better European teams will sit at home whilst lesser teams are at the tournament.

I also think there will be too many games up to 4 per day so they will not get the attention from the neutrals that they deserve.

Allowing more teams in doesn't mean that they will get better. I would rather FIFA focus on developing coaching programs and the professional game in these countries so they have a proper structure to build on.

FIFA could also strengthen these teams by relaxing player qualification rules which Qatar and some other countries are already manipulating to their benefit. I would recognise that a Luxembourg or San Marino is never going to get better because of their population size so would allow them more flexibility than say England.

Grow the game through structural changes rather than make it easier to qualify.

One more point