By Paul Osborne

UEFA President Michel Platini has proposed expanding the FIFA World Cup to a 40 team competitionOctober 28 - UEFA President Michel Platini has aired proposals to increase the number of teams participating at the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 40.


Platini's proposals came after FIFA President Sepp Blatter expressed desires to cut the number of European teams competing in the tournament in favour of teams from Africa and Asia.

Currently, 13 of the 32 teams who take part at the World Cup come from Europe, with five coming from Africa, and four, plus a play-off place, from Asia.

Platini agreed with Blatter's notion of allowing more teams from the two continents to compete, however, believes there is room for more teams from every confederation.

"I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian [countries]," he told The Times.

"But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup.

"We can add two African, two Asiatic, two American, one Oceania and one from Europe.

"I support this idea totally."

This 40 team format would see eight groups of five teams at the World Cup, instead of the four teams currently seen, which Platini says would be "good for everybody".

The new format would increase group sizes from four to fiveThe new format would increase group sizes from four to five, adding three days to the competition, according to Platini



"Football is changing and now we have 209 associations," he said.

"There are more countries so why reduce?

"Forty is not so bad.

"You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy."

Platini's proposal comes amid increased tension with Blatter before the next FIFA Presidential election due in 2015.

It is widely expected that the Italian, currently a vice-president at FIFA, intends to run against Blatter in this election.

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