All smiles as FIFA president suggests two more African slots at the World Cup

FIFA’s Africa tour in Nigeria has shone some light on the hopes of the continent to have a bigger representation at the World Cup as President Gianni Infantino is pushing for 40 instead of the 32 teams at the 2026 finale.

Africa currently has five slots at the World Cup which has been criticised for being imbalance considering the large number of countries on the continent. Until 1998, Africa was only represented by 3 teams.

“I believe for the World Cup 2026 there should be 40 teams. And out of the eight more there should be at least two slots for African teams,” Infantino said in Nigeria.

Just like his predecessor Sepp Blatter, Gianni Infantino has expressed his desire to have more representation for Africa and Asian countries.

“This is what I declared during my campaign and as you know I’m not a dictator but a democratically elected FIFA president, so I have to speak to everyone and listen to everyone as well,” he added referring to his promises during his bid for the presidency.

The FIFA president together with the new FIFA General Secretary, the Senegalese Fatma Samoura, spent two days in Abuja and met with 18 presidents of African football federations as well as the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.