64-team World Cup simulator
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What if the World Cup had 64 teams instead of 48? This page looks at the results of simulations from this simulator. Let's assume this is in 2022, because I'm not entirely sure who exactly will make up the national teams in 2026. Oh, and let's say the United States hosts the summer games of this hypothetical World Cup and Qatar hosts the winter games.
Qualification
UEFA
In Group 1, Switzerland (22) and Serbia (19) qualified, eliminating Israel (8), Slovenia (7), and Moldova (1). This will be Switzerland's 12th World Cup and Serbia's 13th when including appearances as Yugoslavia.
In Group 2, Belgium (21) and Poland (18) qualified, eliminating Slovakia (7), Andorra (7), and Belarus (6). This will be Belgium's 14th World Cup and Poland's 9th.
In Group 3, the Netherlands (21) and Ukraine (14) qualified, eliminating Romania (12), Georgia (5), and Azerbaijan (4). This will be the Netherlands' 11th World Cup and Ukraine's return following their only appearance in 2006.
In Group 4, England (18) and Northern Ireland (14) qualified, eliminating Montenegro (10), Austria (9), and Lithuania (4). This will be England's 16th World Cup and Northern Ireland's return after 36 years, competing in their 4th World Cup.
In Group 5, Croatia (20) and Iceland (16) qualified, eliminating Scotland (10), Bulgaria (9), and Kazakhstan (1). This will be Croatia's 7th World Cup. They somehow managed to reach the final in 2018. Iceland had their only prior appearance four years ago, though their most successful fairy tale to date was their appearance in the quarterfinals of UEFA EURO 2016.
In Group 6, Norway (20) surprisingly edged out Germany (18). Both qualified, eliminating Czechia (12), Armenia (6), and Gibraltar (3). Norway haven't made an appearance since 1998. This will be their fourth overall. Germany will appear in their 20th World Cup.
In Group 7, Italy (22) finally qualified after missing out, alongside Sweden (16). Finland (15), Cyprus (4), and Liechtenstein (1) are eliminated. This will be Italy's 18th World Cup and Sweden's 12th.
In Group 8, Greece (19) and Denmark (18) qualified, eliminating Wales (16), Luxembourg (6), and Faroe Islands (0). This will be Greece's 3rd World Cup, though their biggest success came from their shocking 1–0 victory over Portugal on the latter's home soil to win UEFA EURO 2004. Denmark will appear in their 6th World Cup.
In Group 9, defending world champions France (24) and Türkiye (18) qualified, eliminating the Republic of Ireland (10), North Macedonia (7), and Latvia (0). This will be France's 15th World Cup and Türkiye's return after 20 years, overall appearing in their 3rd World Cup. In their last appearance in 2002, they somehow managed to take 3rd place over South Korea.
In Group 10, Portugal (22) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (15) qualified, eliminating Hungary (10), Malta (7), and Kosovo (3). This will be Portugal's 7th World Cup (and possibly their last with Cristiano Ronaldo) and Bosnia's return following their only appearance in 2014.
In Group 11, Spain (24) and Russia (15) qualified, eliminating Albania (10), San Marino (5), and Estonia (4). This will be Spain's 16th World Cup and Russia's 12th, despite... you know. I didn't make the website. Also, how the fuck did San Marino get five points?! They're the worst-performing national team in the world, so seeing this is a huge surprise.
Remember Wales? Yeah, I lied about their elimination. They still have a chance at qualification through the inter-confederation playoffs.
OFC
In the final, American Samoa (who beat Papua New Guinea) upset New Zealand (who beat New Caledonia) for a place in their first World Cup. Michael Bloomberg would be proud.
CONMEBOL
Brazil (37), Uruguay (37), Argentina (35), Peru (29), Colombia (27), Chile (20) (for the first time since 2014) and Paraguay (18) (for the first time since 2010) have all qualified for the World Cup. Venezuela (16), who are the only CONMEBOL team not to appear in the World Cup at all, missed out, alongside Ecuador (16) and Bolivia (14). This will be Brazil's 9th World Cup, Uruguay's 14th, Argentina's 18th, Peru's 6th, Colombia's 7th, Chile's 10th, and Paraguay's 9th.
CONCACAF
In Group 1, Honduras (37) qualified for the first time since 2014, and Canada (37), at long last, qualified after 36 long years. Guatemala (20), Saint Lucia (17), Grenada (16), Suriname (13), the United States Virgin Islands (9), and Guyana (9) are eliminated. This will be Honduras's 4th World Cup and Canada's 2nd.
In Group 2, the United States (42) and Jamaica (27) qualified for the first time since 2014 and 1998 respectively, eliminating Trinidad and Tobago (26), Bermuda (25), The Bahamas (14), Belize (10), Dominica (9), and Nicaragua (9). This will be the US's 11th World Cup and Jamaica's 2nd.
In Group 3, Mexico (40) and Panama (31) qualified, eliminating Haiti (26), Puerto Rico (16), Saint Kitts and Nevis (16), Barbados (12), Aruba (10), and Montserrat (8). This will be Mexico's 17th World Cup and Panama's 2nd.
In Group 4, Costa Rica (42) and El Salvador (26) qualified, eliminating Curaçao (25), Antigua and Barbuda (24), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (19), Cuba (16), the Dominican Republic (5), and the Cayman Islands (3). This will be Costa Rica's 6th World Cup and El Salvador's long-awaited return after 40 years, overall appearing in their 3rd World Cup.
I also lied about Curaçao, they're in the playoffs too.
AFC
In Group 1, Burkina Faso (13) eliminated Ethiopia (13), Zimbabwe (6), and Guinea-Bissau (1) to qualify for their first World Cup.
In Group 2, Ghana (13) eliminated Namibia (10), Benin (6), and Eswatini (1) to qualify for their 4th World Cup.
In Group 3, Tunisia (15) eliminated Liberia (8), Gabon (7), and Libya (4) to qualify for their 6th World Cup.
In Group 4, Côte d'Ivoire (15) eliminated Sudan (7), Zambia (7), and Eritrea (6) to qualify for their 4th World Cup.
In Group 5, Senegal (18) eliminated South Africa (12), the Central African Republic (4), and Rwanda (1) to qualify for their 3rd World Cup.
In Group 6, the Republic of the Congo (12) eliminated the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (12), Burundi (6), and Niger (6) to qualify for their first World Cup.
In Group 7, Nigeria (16) eliminated Guinea (11), Sierra Leone (5), and The Gambia (1) to qualify for their 7th World Cup.
In Group 8, Morocco (18) eliminated Mozambique (7), Lesotho (7), and Madagascar (3) to qualify for their 6th World Cup.
In Group 9, Egypt (18) eliminated Cabo Verde (9), South Sudan (6), and Malawi (3) to qualify for their 4th World Cup.
In Group 10, Algeria (18) eliminated Kenya (9), Angola (7), and Botswana (1) to qualify for their 5th World Cup.
In Group 11, Cameroon (13) eliminated Tanzania (9), Togo (6), and Mauritania (5) to qualify for their 9th World Cup.
In Group 12, Mali (13) eliminated Uganda (13), Equatorial Guinea (6), and the Comoros (1) to qualify for their first World Cup.
"But editor, there has to be someone in the playoffs!" That's right, it's the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
AFC
In Group 1, the United Arab Emirates (23) and Palestine (21) qualified, eliminating South Korea (19), Malaysia (13), Tajikistan (10), and Brunei (0). This will be the UAE's return after 32 years and Palestine's first World Cup.
In Group 2, Qatar (25) and Uzbekistan (23) qualified, eliminating Jordan (16), Thailand (9), Taiwan (5), and Pakistan (5). This will be the first World Cup for both teams.
In Group 3, Saudi Arabia (24) and Lebanon (21) qualified, eliminating Syria (16), India (13), Sri Lanka (13), and Myanmar (1). This will be Saudi Arabia's 6th World Cup and Lebanon's first.
In Group 4, Iran (28) and China (24) qualified, eliminating Bahrain (17), the Philippines (10), Hong Kong (4), and Nepal (4). This will be Iran's 6th World Cup and China's return after 20 years, overall appearing in their 2nd World Cup.
In Group 5, Oman (24) and Japan (21) qualified, eliminating Vietnam (14), North Korea (11), Kuwait (9), and Indonesia (7). This will be Oman's first World Cup and Japan's 7th (in a row).
In Group 6, Australia (25) and Iraq (22) qualified, eliminating Turkmenistan (14), Kyrgyzstan (12), Guam (5), and Singapore (4). This will be Australia's 6th World Cup and Iraq's return after 36 years.
I know what you're gonna say. South Korea are still alive.
Playoffs
Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington hosted all four inter-confederation playoff games.
| Democratic Republic of the Congo 23x15px | 1–2 | 23x15px Wales |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Curaçao 23x15px | 0–0 |  Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties | ||
|
3–2 |
|
New Zealand  | 1–2 | 23x15px Wales |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Curaçao 23x15px | 0–0 |  South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties | ||
|
4–2 |
|
Wales qualify for their first World Cup since 1958, and Curaçao shockingly upset Venezuela and South Korea to qualify for their first ever World Cup.
First group stage
Group 1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Greece
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 2 |  United States (H)
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | 23x15px Wales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | |
| 4 | 23x15px Lebanon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
| United States | 1–0 | 23x15px Wales |
|---|---|---|
|
The World Cup is finally underway, with the opening game between the United States and Wales. In front of 102,384 people, Weston McKennie scored the game's only goal in the 27th minute, with Giovanni Reyna assisting. Before the game, the Welsh fans, all clad in red, belted out their national anthem. The US anthem was accompanied by a flypast from the USAF Thunderbirds.
In real life, the United States and Wales actually met in the 2022 World Cup. It was a 1–1 draw, courtesy of Timothy Weah for the US and Gareth Bale for Wales, the latter being a penalty goal.
| Greece | 2–0 | 23x15px Lebanon |
|---|---|---|
|
It was an all-Mediterranean showdown in Indianapolis as Greece took on first-timers Lebanon. Greece prevailed thanks to a lovely goal from Dimitrios Siovas and a penalty goal from Giorgos Giakoumakis.