Thursday, December 8, 2016

48-team World Cup proposal gets thumbs up at FIFA meeting (The Associated Press)

FILE- In this Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 file photo, FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a news briefing ahead of the draw for the soccer Confederations Cup 2017, in Kazan, Russia. Infantino has suggested having 16 three-team groups if the World Cup expands to 48 countries, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a proposal to expand the World Cup finals to 48 teams, with 16 groups of three teams, received enthusiastic backing at a meeting of national federations on Thursday. A select meeting of national federations from Asia, Europe and Oceania met with Infantino on Thursday, and welcomed a change from the current eight-group, 32-team event. While some had voiced concerns that an expansion of the World Cup will dilute its quality and standing as an event for elite national teams, Infantino said those concerns were outweighed by the benefits.


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