Africa wants 10 spots in 48-team W’Cup

Following the vote to expand the World Cup from its current format of 32 teams to 48, Africa will be looking to double the number of teams that represent the continent at the global competition.

The expansion, which was proposed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, will kick in from the 2026 World Cup, and the new format will see 16 groups of three countries, with the top two advancing to the knockout round, as number of games will also increase from 64 to 80.

Africa gave a ringing endorsement to the expansion plans, and as the number of representatives would hence change for all continents, Africa’s football association presidents have told the world football governing body that they want an additional 5 spots.

“All associations back the idea to expand the World Cup and there is the hope that Africa can have 10 places in future,” South African FA chief Danny Jordaan hinted on Wednesday.

Read Also: Europe to seek 16 spots in 48-team World Cup

Earlier this month, the Union of European football Associations (UEFA) said it will ask to be given 16 places at the expanded 48-team World Cup which begins in 2026.

They are seeking 16 places, up from 13, and wants to be separated in the 16 opening round groups of three teams, in which the top two would advance to a 32-team knockout phase under the plans approved by FIFA in January.

Asia is expected to get between eight and nine places, compared to 4-1/2 now, and South America, which has 10 member countries, a total of six, also up from 4-1/2.

The CONCACAF region, made up of the Caribbean, Central and North American countries, would get 6-1/2 places, compared to 3-1/2, with Oceania, the small Pacific Islands confederation, having one automatic place at the finals instead of 1/2.

Inter-continental playoffs between countries with 1/2 a place would determine the additional spots at the finals.

But at the time of the announcement of the unanimous endorsement of the expansion proposal, Infantino said the decision on who would get the extra qualification slots would be “looked at speedily”. “The only sure thing is that everyone will have a bit more representation than they have.”

Hence, the final allocation of places must be passed by the FIFA Council.

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