Luis_Rancagua Posted June 11, 2003 Share Posted June 11, 2003 FIFA considers two proposals Sportal FIFA is examining the merits of two proposals that have been tabled to increase the World Cup finals from a 32 to 36-team tournament. The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), which lost half a spot when FIFA decided to hand Oceania an automatic qualification, is behind the move to add four countries for Germany 2006 and beyond. Both proposals being considered by FIFA set out nine groups of four teams for the first phase, as opposed to eight for the 2002 World Cup finals. In the first plan by CONMEBOL, the nine group winners and the top five second-place teams would progress to the round of 16 with the other four second-placed teams playing-off for the remaining two places. Another scenario is for the group winners to be joined in the last 16 by the seven best second-placed finishers. If the first proposal were implemented, the 2006 World Cup finals would have eight more games than the 2002 finals while the second option would add six further games to the schedule. Support for the four-team increase has been split among world football's powerbrokers with UEFA chief Lennart Johansson backing CONMEBOL's bid while FIFA president Sepp Blatter and CONCACAF president Jack Warner remain sceptical. FIFA's executive committee will vote on the proposal at the end of June. Updated: Tue, Jun 10, 2003 12:39:17 PM AEDT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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