NEW FIFA president Giovanni Infantino has revealed his ambition to expand the World Cup to 48 teams.
The recently-elected chief of world football wants to see the number of nations competing grow from its current number of 32.
In order to make room for the additional countries who would take part, it has been claimed that he wants to change the group format.
To introduce the 16 additional sides, the existing eight groups of four teams format would switch to 16 groups of three.
The top two from each group would then qualify for the Round of 32 knockout stage.
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AFP has reported that a source within world football’s governing body informed them of Infantino’s desire for change on Wednesday.
The chief will submit his latest proposal at a Fifa Council meeting in Zurich on January 9-10, with the changes due to start at the 2026 tournament.
Infantino’s plan would certainly ramp up the revenue generated from the tournament.
But this latest claim is nothing new. After all, his intention to increase the number of World Cup participants was a huge part of his presidential mandate, which helped him to gain votes from a host of smaller nations.
Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter as Fifa president earlier this year.
The Italian has brought up the idea of expanding the footballing showpiece as recently as October.
Speaking two months ago, he said: “Whether it will be 40 or 48, it was a positive discussion. I don’t agree it will dilute the quality.
“I would like to remind you that in the last World Cup, England and Italy were eliminated by Costa Rica. The level of football is increasing all over the world.
“In a 48-team format, the quality would be higher because the 32 teams would have a play off. The quality would improve and not decrease in any way.”
Only 13 nations competed in the first-ever World Cup that was held in Uruguay way back in 1930.
That number increased four years later to 16 and remained that way for 48 years.
Eight further countries were added for the 1982 finals, taking it to 24, before the tournament had another increase to the current 32 teams at the 1998 World Cup in France.
The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia before Qatar plays host to the 2022 edition.
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