Football is determined to remain the world's most popular and widely played sport and continues to seek ways to make sure that remains the case.

Everyone connected with the sport is intent on making it the best spectacle on the planet, but what ways are there of improving it?

When so much is already successful, it is complicated to pull off change without negatively impacting the product.

 

A 48-team World Cup

 

The World Cup is the jewel of football's crown and plans are in the works to make it an even bigger global competition.

In 2026, it will expand from 32 teams to 48 at the tournament's final stages."We have to be more inclusive and can't stay stuck in our ways," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

 

UEFA Nations League

 

UEFA are also determined to make changes to competitions, with their ideas focused on improving international friendlies, leading to the UEFA Nations League.In September 2018, a tournament will begin which is aimed at bringing more excitement and intensity to European football.

"National federations and coaches have revealed that international friendlies are not providing the right sporting competition," UEFA reasoned.The 55 European nations will be divided into four leagues based on their rankings and there will be promotion and relegation factored in.

 

Champions League modernisation

 

The best club competition in the world isn't free of meddling either and in 2018, the first four countries in UEFA's ranking, of which Spain is one, will have the top four clubs in their league gain automatic Champions League qualification.

The tournament will continue to have 32 teams divided into eight groups, although countries ranked fifth and sixth will have two teams placed immediately into the group phase.

 

The first step for VAR

 

Undoubtedly, the revolution must be linked to technology and that is the case with the VAR (video assistant referee) which brings football up to the level of other sports which have used such a system for a long time.A group of assistants follow the game from a room with the benefit of television replay and view each controversial incident in detail, calling the referee in the event that something must be corrected.It is used for goals, penalties, cards and in cases of mistaken identity.

 

Van Basten's revolution

 

FIFA have created a technical development department aimed at improving the game which is led by Marco van Basten.

The former AC Milan star has proposed a series of somewhat radical changes that could change the game entirely.

Abolishing the offside rule and getting rid of penalty shootouts are just some of the proposals he has offered.