FIFA World News: UEFA President Michel Platini Wants More Asian, African Teams; Expansion Sought
The FIFA World Cup could feature 40 national teams in the future as UEFA president Michel Platini pushes for expansion of the quadrennial sporting spectacle.
In a recent interview with the Times, Platini voiced out his support to FIFA President Sepp Blatter in the idea of jacking up the number of African and Asian teams playing in the World Cup.
"It's good for everybody," Platini told The Times via ESPN. "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."
Blatter has been pushing for the participation of more Asian and African teams in the FIFA World Cup, which has been historically dominated by European ball club.
Platini believed Blatter's idea is good for the game, and expansion is the best way to get the job done.
"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," said the UEFA top honcho.