Fifa presidential candidate Luís Figo proposes up to 48 World Cup teams
• Portuguese wants to increase number from 32 teams to ‘40 or 48’
• ‘I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations’
• Beckham backs Figo’s bid to replace Blatter as Fifa president
Luís Figo launched his Fifa presidential campaign manifesto at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. Photograph: Alex Morton/Reuters
Fifa presidential candidate Luís Figo is proposing an increase from 32 to “40 or 48” teams at the World Cup finals as part of his manifesto launched on Thursday.
The former Portugal international, launching his campaign at Wembley Stadium, also said a greater percentage of Fifa’s income should be spent on grassroots development.
“I believe we should consider proposals to expand the competition to a 40 or even 48 team World Cup,” Figo said.
“Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play. If this expansion were to take place I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations.”
Figo is one of three men challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter. Michael van Praag, the president of the Dutch FA, and Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan, a member of theFifa executive committee, are also standing.
The election takes place at the Fifa congress in Zurich on 29 May.