Soccer

Mixed reaction to Fifa decision to expand World Cup finals to 48 teams

Fifa president Gianni Infantino speaks after the body's ruling council meeting in Zurich on Tuesday<br />Picture by AP&nbsp;
Fifa president Gianni Infantino speaks after the body's ruling council meeting in Zurich on Tuesday
Picture by AP 
Fifa president Gianni Infantino speaks after the body's ruling council meeting in Zurich on Tuesday
Picture by AP 

THE English Football Association has urged Fifa to consider the needs of supporters, players and teams after plans for a 48-team World Cup expansion were approved on Tuesday.

The Fifa council unanimously backed a model to increase participants from 32 nations to 48, divided into 16 groups of three, for the 2026 World Cup onwards in the competition's first revamp since 1998.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino believes a more swelled tournament will enhance the game globally, but the FA has stressed various interests must be considered when proposals are formalised.

"We will work with Uefa, Fifa and the other European associations to understand how the 48-team Fifa World Cup will work," an FA statement said.

"The priority has to be consideration of the potential impact on fans, players, teams and leagues, and also recognition of the importance of sporting integrity and commercial viability.

"In terms of the allocation of places, we note that further discussions will follow across the confederations and would expect a proper consultation process to be carried out before any decision is made."

A number of issues remain unresolved - not least how the 16 extra qualifying spots are divided up, with Infantino only promising each of the six associations more representation in 2026.

Currently, Uefa has 13 qualifying places for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, five will come from Africa, four or five from Asia and South America, three from North America and one from Oceania, provided they win a play-off.

"It was clear that all other confederations were overwhelmingly in favour of expanding the Fifa World Cup to 48 teams, starting in 2026," a Uefa statement said.

"As a result, Uefa decided to join in supporting the new format of the competition. Uefa is satisfied that it succeeded in postponing the final decision regarding the slot allocation of every confederation in the future format of the Fifa World Cup.

"We would also like to state that we are happy that the new proposed length and format of the tournament does not increase the burden on players. We will also ensure that clubs' interests will continue to be protected."

Countries with long World Cup absences and those who have never featured stand to benefit most, with Scotland, whose most recent participation was in 1998, falling into that category.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan said: "We believe this is a positive step, particularly for the smaller nations and will allow more fans across the globe to revel in their country's participation at a Fifa World Cup finals."

Northern Ireland were last at a finals in 1986 and, speaking before the decision was made, Irish Football Association president David Martin had said: "I'm in favour of any decision that gives Northern Ireland a better chance of qualifying for a World Cup."

However, Infantino's plan has been opposed by the European Club Association, a body representing the interests of 220 teams, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

"We fail to see the merits to changing the current format of 32 that has proven to be the perfect formula from all perspectives," its statement read.

"Questionable is also the urgency in reaching such an important decision, with nine years to go until it becomes applicable, without the proper involvement of stakeholders who will be impacted by this change.

"We understand that this decision has been taken based on political reasons rather than sporting ones and under considerable political pressure, something ECA believes is regrettable."

Not everyone with club allegiances is against the notion. United boss Jose Mourinho had, last week, given his approval, while Ottmar Hitzfeld, an ex-boss of Bayern and Switzerland, told Blick expansion was "appropriate" due to the improvement of smaller nations.

But Spain's LaLiga president Javier Tebas made strong protestations, saying: "Infantino behaves like [former Fifa president Sepp] Blatter.

"He also made decisions alone without consulting anyone about them and I'm very angry. It is easy to expand this competition without having to pay the players. The football industry is maintained thanks to clubs and leagues, not Fifa."

New Fifa Now, a campaign group founded by, among others, British MP Damian Collins that is seeking change in the way the governing body operates, was also critical: "It is a money grab and power grab," it said in a statement.

"The aim is to increase revenue in order to fund the extravagant election promises of the Fifa president Gianni Infantino, as well as to consolidate Infantino's personal position. This is straight out of the [former Fifa presidents] Joao Havelange and Sepp Blatter playbooks."