FIFA have decided to expand the World Cup – but everybody reckons there still won’t be any room for Scotland.
Earlier today, football’s governing body voted to allow 16 extra teams into the game’s flagship competition from the 2026 tournament onwards, meaning there’s obviously a much greater chance for smaller countries to qualify – like the Scots.
Scotland haven’t reached a major finals since the 1998 World Cup in France and look doomed in their bid to reach the 2018 tournament in Russia following November’s 3-0 defeat to England at Wembley.
After two decades in the footballing wilderness, you’d think today’s news would have Scots everywhere rejoicing but it seems them, and others throughout the UK, have just taken it as an opportunity to royally troll Gordon Strachan’s team:
For all the jokes about Scotland still not qualifying for a 48-team World Cup, they're currently ranked 67th in the world…
— James Maw (@JamesMawFFT) January 10, 2017
Aye, bet they did. pic.twitter.com/8W2rIxedpN
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 10, 2017
Teams that could now qualify for the World Cup:
Rentford Rejects
Harchester Utd
The Jungle team off the old coco pops advert
Scotland
— Matt Hibbert (@MattHibbert) January 10, 2017
World Cup is done for. Watching Afghanistan vs Scotland. No thanks
— Stu Yates (@stuyatesefc) January 10, 2017
World Cup idea: expand it to 196 countries, with 14 groups of 14. Scotland would still fail to qualify.
— Nick Mitchell (@NickMitchell) January 10, 2017
Shocking call by FIFA (again) 3 team groups pathetic too, but on the lighter side Scotland will be half a chance to make it #fifa #worldcup
— Mick Leeming (@MickVilla82) January 10, 2017
An extra 14 places and still scotland probably won't qualify for a world cup.
— Scot Ferguson MUA (@Scotwithonetea) January 10, 2017
And all the while Scotland couldn't even get to a tournament half of Europe was at. Why are we suddenly excited about a bigger World Cup?
— Andrew Dickson (@mrandrewdickson) January 10, 2017
They could have 195 teams in the #fifa world cup and Scotland still won't qualify 🙁
— Montynero (@montynero) January 10, 2017
What do you make of the expansion plans? Is a 48-team tournament really a positive step?
And does it give Scotland a much better chance of qualifying?
Let us know in the comments section below…
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