The World Cup finals will be expanded to 48 teams from the 2026 edition, football governing body FIFA confirmed at a council meeting in Zurich on Tuesday.
The proposal was backed "unanimously" according to FIFA and represents a 50 per cent increase from the present number of 32 teams.It was the favoured plan of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who pledged to increase the size of the tournament during his election campaign.
Speaking in a post-meeting news conference, Infantino said that the move was to "shape the World Cup of the 21st century." Participating countries will be divided into 16 groups of three at the finals, likely creating a tournament with 80 matches - up from the current 64.
Source: QNA
GMT 08:50 2018 Sunday ,07 January
India's Pandya defies South African bowlersGMT 15:58 2017 Tuesday ,19 December
Both Philippe Coutinho and Liverpool may not get what they want in Barcelona transfer sagaGMT 11:40 2017 Monday ,18 December
Egypt to play Portugal, Bulgaria in pre-World Cup friendliesGMT 11:01 2017 Sunday ,17 December
Romelu Lukaku place under threat as Jose Mourinho eyes rotation policyGMT 10:05 2017 Sunday ,17 December
Three Moroccans to Participate in 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South KoreaGMT 12:04 2017 Saturday ,16 December
Spain Could Be Kicked Out of 2018 World CupGMT 11:38 2017 Saturday ,16 December
Manchester City's record run only tells half the story — they are already among the greatsGMT 10:28 2017 Saturday ,16 December
Putin says Russia will defend in court athletes accused of dopingMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©