Plan to expand W/Cup finals rejected

PARIS: FIFA’s Executive Committee yesterday rejected a proposal to expand the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany from 32 to 36 teams. FIFA initially gave the idea a guarded welcome but, after a detailed investigation of the logistical problems of increasing the numbers, voted against it. The executive members representing the South American confederation of CONMEBOL adhered to the request of President Sepp Blatter and withdrew their proposal to increase the number of teams to 36. Furthermore, the committee members agreed to a proposal tabled by vice-president Lennart Johansson and awarded an extra half-place (0.5) to CONMEBOL. CONCACAF, the Confederation governing the Caribbean, North America and Central America, will have an extra half-place for a total of 3.5 — the top three, and the fourth team playing off with an Asian fringe team for a spot to Germany. The qualifying competition for the 2006 World Cup starts early next year. The final distribution of places for the 2006 FIFA World Cup will be — Asian Football Confederation (4.5), Confederation of African (5), CONCACAF (3.5), CONMEBOL (4.5), Oceania (0.5), UEFA, the European Football Association, 14. The committee also decided that 32 teams would also contest the final competition of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.