PARIS, France, October 28 – UEFA chief Michel Platini has said he is in favour of increasing the number of teams taking part in the World Cup finals from the current 32 to 40.
The Frenchman has been behind several innovative ideas since taking over at the helm of European football’s governin”g body in 2007, notably in encouraging the sport’s global growth.
“I am in favour of there being more teams from Africa, ASia, Oceania and north America playing in the World Cup,” he told AFP.
“So why not move from 32 teams to 40?. That would give us eight groups of five. And going by our research, it would only add three days to the World Cup schedule.”
Platini’s views came just two days after FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said he was in favour of increasing the number of World Cup finalists.
“We need to ensure that the African and Asian federations get what they deserve. The Europeans and South Americans between them have the majority of places at the World Cup although they have fewer member federations than Africa and Asia,” Blatter said.
“It is not normal that Africa has just five places.”
