Gianni Infantino prepares for talks over 40-team World Cup expansion
Tuesday 6 September 2016 17:24, UK
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is preparing for talks over the expansion of the World Cup to 40 teams but he insists it is not a foregone conclusion.
Broadening the current 32-team format was part of Infantino's pledge to become FIFA president, which he did in February this year, and he is continuing to campaign for this development following the success of the expanded European Championship this summer.
Infantino has also reiterated his idea for multi-host tournaments and suggested North and Central America stand a good chance of being awarded the 2026 World Cup after missing out "for a long time".
The Swiss said: "My opinion has not changed on the 40 teams, but that's my opinion. We will have to discuss it and see what's best for football.
"Nothing is definite. I believe in the 40 teams because I think it is positive for the development of football and we have seen that again at Euro 2016 in France, with eight more teams.
"There are no limits to whatever is good for football.
"For the moment everything is open, but there is a question of who can and cannot bid. CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) didn't have a World Cup for a long time.
"We need to realise that these kinds of events are more than just a competition; they are really social events for the whole world.
"What is important is that the whole process is done in a correct way, a transparent way."
FIFA expect to make decisions on these matters sometime in October, including which continents will be eligible to bid for 2026, but the final decision over who will host that tournament will not be made until May 2020.
