World Cup expansion gets thumbs up

SINGAPORE – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a proposal to expand the World Cup finals to 48 teams, with 16 groups of three teams, received enthusiastic backing at a meeting of national confederations on Thursday. That model, along with an alternative 48-team format and a 40-team event, were three proposals put forward for discussion this week by FIFA as it considers expansion of the World Cup from 2026 onward. A select meeting of national confederations from Asia, Europe and Oceania met with Infantino on Thursday, and the FIFA president said “everyone, unanimously” supported an expansion. “The big, big, big majority is in favour of the 48 teams with the 16 groups of three.”