Platini wants 40-team World Cup

[Mirror]

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president, Michel Platini, wants the World Cup expanded from 32 to 40 teams. The 58-year-old has proposed the move after FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, suggested more countries from Africa and Asia should qualify at the expense of those from Europe.

"Instead of taking away some European [nations], we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup," Platini told The Times.

We can add two African, two Asiatic, two American and one from Europe. I support this idea totally." The first World Cup in 1930 had 13 nations competing, growing to 16 four years later and 24 in 1982, with the increase to the current 32 teams taking place in 1998.

Europe has 13 slots in the current set-up, while Africa has five and Asia four plus a play-off place. Platini's idea for 40 teams would see eight groups of five at the World Cup as opposed to the present structure of eight groups of four.

The move could come in for the 2018 tournament in Russia and, according to the former French international, would mean the competition being extended by three days.

[Shola Sholaz]

32 to 40 teams would work in my opinion. It would give other countries chance to participate and that will make sense