Gianni Infantino proposes staging an expanded World Cup across several countries
Gianni Infantino, UEFA's general secretary who can often be seen pulling balls out of pots, is setting out his vision for football.
Ahead of FIFA's presidential election, Infantino - one of five candidates standing for the governing body's presidency - addressed his plans for the World Cup. Beyond expanding football's most prestigious competition to include 40 national teams, he wants to see the tournament be hosted across several countries rather than one single nation.
"Each confederation shall have to wait at least two editions before being able to host the World Cup again," Infantino said, according to Owen Gibson of the Guardian. "This will ensure a more equitable rotation, while giving every confederation the opportunity to organise this unique event.
"Furthermore, FIFA should investigate the possibility of organising the World Cup not only in one or two countries but in a whole region, so enabling several countries to enjoy the honour and benefits of hosting the World Cup."
Running against Infantino in a bid for FIFA's presidency are:
- Prince Ali Bin-al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association
- Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation
- Jerome Champagne, former FIFA official
- Tokyo Sexwale, former anti-apartheid activist from South Africa