FIFA Presidency: Figo Proposes 48-team World Cup

FIFA presidential candidate, Luis Figo has launched his manifesto which includes a potential expansion of the game’s biggest international competition, saying the World Cup could be expanded to a 40 or 48-team event if he becomes FIFA president in May.

The Portuguese international is one of three men challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter in this year’s election, and insists he wants FIFA to be more inclusive of countries outside of Europe.

Launching his manifesto at a press conference at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, Figo announced: “I believe we should consider proposals to expand the World Cup from its current 32-team structure to a 40 or even 48-team competition.

Former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan winger Figo, who played at two World Cups, said on Thursday that the current format could be increased to 40 teams or Fifa could stage two 24-team competitions simultaneously on two continents, followed by a knockout phase in one nation.

He 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.

"We not only make sure that we include more countries from across the world, but also enable Fifa to raise significant increased revenues that can be used to invest in the growth of the game globally."

Figo, the 2001 Fifa world player of the year, also proposes:
Spreading half of Fifa's $2.5bn revenue over four years to associations to fund grassroots football.
Redistributing $1bn of Fifa's $1.5bn cash reserves to the 209 national federations.
Increased use of technology in the game, using sin-bins for unsporting behaviour.
Reverting back to the previous interpretation of the offside rule, "where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not".

This is really mouth watering.. I wish you success as you contest .. Hope to see you at the top..