32 or 48 teams, Africa remains ill treated

picture/ibtimes 

Ernest Mabasa

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made the first and big stride since he took the helm of the Association from Argentina Sepp Blatter .  FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has announced today (Tuesday) that from 2026 world cup competition, teams will expand from 32 to 48.

The additional 16 teams mean that the tournament will then increase games from 64 to 80. last time the tournament expanded was in 1998 under Blatter.  

Here is an interesting expanding statistics from SAFA:

·         In 1982 there was an increase from16 to 24 = 8 teams

·         In 1998 there was an increase from 24 to 32 = 8 teams

·         In 2026 there will be an increase from 32 to 48 = 16 teams

Total percentage of membership participating in World Cup:

·         16 out of 70 members = 14,8% (1966)

·         24 out of 109 members = 22,4% (1982)

·         32 out of 174 members = 18,3.% (1998)

·         48 out of 211 members = 22,4% (2026)