Michel Platini Calls for World Cup Expansion

UEFA President Michel Platini has said he thinks the World Cup should be expanded from 32 teams to 40.

Platini said the expansion would only add three days to the tournament’s schedule and the event would reach a wider global audience.

In the past Platini has backed calls for more African teams in the World Cup, but he has now said that Asia, America and Europe would benefit from an expansion.

It is believed that Platini will rival FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s run for re-election in 2015, which could put the Frenchman in a position to make major calls such as an overhaul of the World Cup format.

Platini told The Times: “It’s good for everybody.

“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,” he added.

“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.”

{jcomments on}