The new head of the International Federation of football Gianni Infantino wants to reform the format of the world Cup.
The rumors about the increased number of participants in the final stage of the world championship being discussed is not the first year. Recently in the European championship play 24 teams instead of 16 – soon expansion may also be related to the world Cup.
“In the world Cup can play 48 teams. First 32 teams will play in the qualifying round of the playoffs, 16 of them will stop the performance after the first match.
The other 16 teams will be selected as seed. After the start of the group stage of the world Cup.
Now these ideas are being discussed in FIFA. Final decision will be made by 2017. We will determine which option will be the most successful,” said Infantino.
It should be noted that the former head of UEFA Michel Platini has proposed to expand the final stage of the world Cup to 40 teams. Infantino also proposes to add 16 teams, but the format of a third of the participants of the world Cup will leave the tournament after the opening match.
The current world Cup champion is the German team. The next tournament in 2018 in Russia.
