Figo proposes expanded 48-team World Cup

Luis Figo would look at increasing the number of teams in the World Cup from 32 to up to 48 if he is elected to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

The former Portugal international said while releasing his manifesto at Wembley Stadium that the current format of the World Cup could be increased to 40 teams or FIFA could stage two 24-team tournaments simultaneously on two continents, followed by a knockout phase in one nation.

“Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play. If this expansion were to take place I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations,” he said.

“We not only make sure that we include more countries from across the world, but also enable FIFA to raise significant increased revenues that can be used to invest in the growth of the game globally.”

Another of his key proposals is the distribution of half of FIFA’s wealth – $2.5 billion (2.19 billion euros) – directly to its member associations for spending on grassroots football.

The former Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder also called for the restoration of the “old” interpretation of the offside rule, “where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not”.

Figo, 42, is one of three candidates challenging Blatter in the May 29 election.

Dutch federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein are others in the running.

Blatter, 78, who has been bossing FIFA since 1998, said in June 2014 that he intended to run for a fifth term.