LONDON (AP) FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested having 16 three-team groups if the World Cup expands to 48 countries.
Members of the FIFA Council received a recommendation from world soccer's governing body setting out five proposed formats for its showpiece event from 2026 - two 48-team team options, two 40-team options and sticking at 32.
But with 16 teams going home after only one game, that idea met with opposition at a meeting of 20 FIFA member nations in Paris last month.
''Everyone sees that the increase of the participation for the World Cup is really a tool to promote football in more countries,'' Infantino said last month.