FIFA asked to make drastic change to World Cup rule

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) have told FIFA to increase the number of nations competing at the 2022 World Cup from 32 to 48.

CONMEBOL, which says it has the backing of its 10 member associations, wants more South American nations to be represented in Qatar, although FIFA is already planning to expand its finals in 2026.

For this summer's World Cup, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay all qualified - with big shots Chile and Ecuador among those missing out.

The maiden World Cup in Uruguay had 13 competitors, before increasing to 16 between 1934 and 1978, before having 24 teams for four tournaments before upping to the current 32 for France 1998.

The request was made in an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino at CONMEBOL's annual conference in Buenos Aires.

"As we think big, and because we want justice, because we want you and all our companions to want to think big, I am asking that the 2022 World Cup is played with 48 teams," CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez said.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

CONMEBOL currently get five guaranteed spots for the 32-team World Cup, and that number will rise to six - or 60 percent of all member nations - at a 48-team tournament.

The continent have won nine World Cup, with Brazil's five victories accompanied by Argentina and Uruguay's double.

The 2022 World Cup will be hosted in Qatar, the first time the tournament will take place in the Middle East.

A tweet from the confederation's official account read: "CONMEBOL, through its president Alejandro Dominguez and with the support of its 10 member associations, has formally requested that FIFA president Gianni Infantino implement, from the 2022 World Cup onwards, an increase from 32 participating teams to 48."

The host of 2026 World Cup will be decided in June, with Morocco hoping to overcome the joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada.