IT could be argued that expanding the number of teams involved at the European Championship finals from 16 to 24 this year proved to be a resounding success.

Euro 2016 in France this summer may not have been up there with, say, West Germany in 1988, Sweden in 1992 or England in 1996.

But the performances of Iceland, Northern Ireland and Wales, who all defied expectations to reach the knockout rounds, were undoubtedly a joy to behold.

The lift their rousing displays gave to the sport in those lesser footballing nations was certainly considerable and should be felt for years to come.

That is not, though, to say that changing the format of the World Cup in 2026, so that it comprises 48 rather than 32 countries, is a good idea. Far from it.

It was no surprise when the European Clubs Association (ECA), a group which represents the interests of no fewer than 220 clubs across the continent, quickly announced that it opposed the move.

If the plan that was announced by world’s football’s governing body in Zurich on Tuesday is carried out then we will be treated to 16, yes 16, groups of three, yes three, teams.

Each side will play two games before the top two in each section will go forward to the last 32 when the knockout rounds will get underway.

The number of games played in the space of 32 days will increase from 64 to 80.

As he outlined the thinking behind the 50 per cent increase in the World Cup’s size, FIFA president Gianni Infantino gushed about the impact the changes would have.

“It will help football development,” said Infantino. “The football fever you have in a country that qualifies for the World Cup is the biggest promotional tool for football you can have.”

But there were, along with classic encounters between Wales and Belgium and Iceland and England, some utterly forgettable and totally meaningless matches at the Euro 2016 finals.

Expect them to be multiplied tenfold in Canada, Mexico and the United States – those are the countries where the finals are set to be staged – in 2026.

There promises to be some absolute dross served up at what should really be a showpiece involving the best countries from the six continental federations.

There has always been the odd mismatch at the finals over the years. But they will increase significantly if the new 48 team format is retained and that can't be a good thing for the World Cup or for the beautiful game.

The current make-up of the Champions League group stages has been the source of concern to Europe’s leading clubs for some time.

In particular, the “champions route”, which gives representatives of smaller countries, like Scotland, the chance to qualify, isn’t favoured.

The widespread feeling is there are far too many nothing games as a result. It is a reasonable argument. Both Club Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb lost all six of their games at that stage this term.

This madcap scheme should simply result in even more of the same. How will that enhance the image of the sport across the globe?

Put simply, it won’t. It will have the opposite impact. It will turn people off in their millions. How will seeing your country getting spanked by vastly superior opponents boost football in Africa or Asia?

The reasons for this development are also a concern. FIFA is an organisation attempting to rebuild its tarnished reputation after years of scandalous and even criminal mismanagement.

This move has, despite Infantino’s insistence that it will help to increase the popularity of the game, undoubtedly been made for financial and political reasons. They will make £521 million more and £5.2 billion in total.

A 48 team World Cup will also undoubtedly increase the new president’s popularity with many of FIFA’s 211 members.

Africa, who gain another four automatic places in the finals, will be the biggest beneficiaries. But North America will gain another three automatic places and another play-off place, Europe another three and South American two.

It all smacks of the tactics of Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter.

Coming on the back of FIFA’s decision to fine the associations of the four Home Nations for their players wearing poppies on black armbands around Armistice Day, it does nothing to instil faith in the new regime among a sceptical football public.