Chronicle EditorLONDON. — FIFA presidential candidate Luis Figo will hope to convince delegates at this week’s Asian Football Confederation Congress that a vote for him would boost the region’s chances of more places in future World Cup finals.
Figo said before he left for tomorrow’s congress in the Bahrain capital of Manama that he also wanted more non-Europeans involved in working for FIFA, which should become more of a multi-cultural organisation.
The former Portugal international (42) said in an e-mail exchange that the increased popularity of the sport in Asia and rising standards of play were just two reasons why he wanted to see the World Cup expanded.
“I think the growing popularity and quality of football in the different regions represented within AFC are arguments in favour of opening the debate around expanding the World Cup to 40 or 48 teams with additional teams weighted towards non-European nations,” he said.
Figo’s proposal for a larger World Cup is one of the cornerstones of his manifesto and he intends to tell Asian delegates exactly how they can benefit from his plan.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will comprise 32 finalists but nothing is yet written in stone for tournaments beyond that date with Asia currently allocated four guaranteed berths at finals and the possibility of a fifth via an inter-continental playoff.
Figo added: “I propose the FIFA Congress should study and decide on a new format for the best competition in the world.
“I’m convinced this is the future and I don’t believe the World Cup quality would be affected.” — Reuters.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter