• World Cup

Platini calls for World Cup expansion

ESPN staff
October 28, 2013

UEFA president Michel Platini believes FIFA should consider expanding the World Cup to 40 teams in the coming years, with greater representation from outside of Europe the key focus.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently revealed his desire to see more African teams participating on football's biggest stage and Platini believes expansion is viable given the number of countries currently competing at international level.

Africa and Asia, who have nine guaranteed spots available at the World Cup between them, would benefit most from Platini's proposal and the Frenchman insists there would be little disruption to the current format of the World Cup.

"It's good for everybody," Platini told The Times. "I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian [countries]. But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup.

"We can add two African, two Asiatic, two American and one from Europe. I support this idea totally.

"Football is changing and now we have 209 associations. There are more countries so why reduce? Forty is not so bad. You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy."

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