FIFA plans may win smaller nations' support, expert says

FIFA's plans to sell stakes in its major competitions could win support from smaller nations if they are attracted by extra funding, football finance expert Kieran Maguire said.

FIFA announced plans on Tuesday to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, including the World Cup. The proposals could give smaller member associations a potential initial windfall of $20 million each.

Maguire, an associate professor in football finance at the University of Liverpool, told Britain's Press Association that the extra money would be attractive to smaller associations.

He said the commercial incentives could make an expanded and more frequent World Cup more likely. The possibility of a 64-team tournament appears to be on the agenda, while the previously rejected idea of a biennial World Cup could resurface.

The 2026 World Cup in North America generated record revenues of $15 billion, about double the total from the Qatar tournament four years earlier.

The proposals have drawn criticism, including from European governing body UEFA. Maguire said a more frequent or bigger World Cup would raise questions about the football calendar and would likely face opposition from clubs and the players' union.