NEW 48-TEAM SHOWPIECE
World Cup increase slammed as ‘political’
A confidential Fifa report projects a 48-team tournament would bring a cash boost of $640m above projected revenues for next year’s finals in Russia
Critics of Fifa’s decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams were quick to blast it as a politically and money-driven ploy that will be detrimental to football tournament. But there was support — particularly in Asia and Africa — for Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s expansion plan, unanimously approved by Fifa’s ruling council on Tuesday and to be implemented at the 2026 World Cup. In Germany, the reigning World Cup winners, reaction was mixed. "I am not happy with the decision and would have wished that all the important questions about the organisation and the format had been completely resolved," said Reinhard Grindel, president of the German Football Association." Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said he could "understand everyone who feels the increase of the field is a dilution [in the quality of the tournament]". "Also for me, the increase to 48 teams for the biggest and the most important tournament in the world feels like it’s too much," he said. Berti Vogts, who won...
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