48-team WC to boost revenue

Increasing the World Cup from 32 teams to 48, as proposed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, would generate an additional $640 million (605 million euros), according to a confidential FIFA report seen by AFP on Friday.

An expanded tournament with 48 countries, featuring 16 groups of three teams, starting with the 2026 edition, would see revenues swell to $4.18 billion compared to the $3.54b predicted for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Meanwhile, costs associated with enlarging the number of participating teams and an increase in matches (80 rather than 64 for a 32-team format) would climb by $325m.

Money garnered from television rights would also rise by $505m with marketing revenues accounting for an extra $370m.

Infantino will attempt to adopt the new format at Tuesday's FIFA Council in Zurich.