finals expanded to 40 teams from 2018 to
allow more African and Asian countries into the
tournament without reducing the number of
European nations represented.
Europe currently provides 13 of the 32 teams
at the finals, compared with five from Africa
and four or five, depending on the winners of
a playoff against a South American team, for
the most populous continent Asia.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter wrote last week that
Africa and Asia deserved more representation
at soccer's showpiece event because they had
more member associations than Europe and
South America.
Former France international Platini, widely
regarded as the most likely successor to Swiss
Blatter in the Fifa job, said by his own
calculations that adding eight more teams
would require extending the tournament by
only three days.
"It's good for everybody," Platini told Britain's
Times newspaper in an interview.
"I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need
more African and Asian (teams). But instead of
taking away some European, we have to go to
40 teams.
"We can add two African, two Asiatic, two
American, one Oceania and one from Europe."
European and South American countries have
won all 19 versions of the World Cup.
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