- Title: FIFA vice-president says World Cup format change likely
- Date: 5th October 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** AUDIENCE LISTENING TO INTRODUCTION CAMERAMAN FIFA VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCACAF PRESIDENT, VICTOR MONTAGLIANI (RIGHT), ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCACAF PRESIDENT, VICTOR MONTAGLIANI, SAYING: (ON THE AMOUNT OF TEAMS IN THE WORLD CUP INCREASING) "Well I think it's obvious it's not going to stay at 32 (teams) for 2026. I think it's going to obviously change and I think the message from the president (FIFA president Gianni Infantino) is not so much what the number is right now - I think he's had some ideas, 40 or 48 - but the reality is I think we need to look from a growth perspective, having more teams in there." WIDE OF STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCACAF PRESIDENT, VICTOR MONTAGLIANI, SAYING: (ON THE AMOUNT OF TEAMS IN THE WORLD CUP INCREASING) "Should we expand? I think the answer is probably yes. Now it's what's the format and all that? It has to work obviously, both from a numbers stand point and obviously from a business stand point. But I think before a final decision is made I am sure that we will do a cost benefit analysis and then land somewhere in terms of what it will look like for 2026." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCACAF PRESIDENT, VICTOR MONTAGLIANI, SAYING: (ON CONCACAF HOSTING A WORLD CUP) "I actually think that it's time it does come back to CONCACAF. We haven't had it since 1994, it's obviously a region that's very rich not only from a footballing stand point but also from a market stand point. We have three countries that have the ability to put on the World Cup on their own. In terms of perhaps a more regional bid there's an opportunity there too, but we'll see what the rules and regulations are early next year when FIFA comes out with them, in terms of what's acceptable and what's not. But I think the time is now for it to come back to our region in 2026." WIDE OF STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCACAF PRESIDENT, VICTOR MONTAGLIANI, SAYING: (ON RUSSIA AND QATAR) "I think Russia and Qatar, they're going to happen, unless somebody else tells me otherwise. But I look at it a different way, I think... I ask you this question: If Russia and Qatar wouldn't have got the World Cups would we be in the situation we are in now, with an opportunity to clean the game? I think that was the starting point and the tipping point for certain things to happen and if that wouldn't have happened, if England and the U.S. would have got the World Cup maybe we would have had status quo and I probably wouldn't be sitting here. So in some regards maybe the best thing to happen to football was Russia and Qatar." MONTAGLIANI LISTENING TO A QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCACAF PRESIDENT, VICTOR MONTAGLIANI, SAYING: (ON CONCACAF REFORM) "I think one of the key areas for instance, we just announced an organisational change, a new organisational chart and one of the areas that we have is a chief legal officer, we've never had that before, and a chief compliance officer. That in itself, that one position shows you already a significant shift in culture in terms of... and that was obviously brought about because what was required through our reform process because of what happened with the Department of Justice. No longer can a president or anybody else just do things on a wink and a nod, it needs to be done in a structured manner, obviously having enough organic... where you can make decisions in the best interests of your organisation. I think that one position shows you how we're serious about moving forward in our reforms." MONTAGLIANI LEAVING STAGE AFTER SESSION
- Embargoed: 20th October 2016 21:38
- Keywords: World Cup format CONCACAF Russia Qatar corruption Victor Montagliani
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00152QAURJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani said on Wednesday (October 5) that an increase in the size of the World Cup was likely for the 2026 competition and added that Russia and Qatar being awarded tournaments presented an opportunity to "clean" the sport.
Speaking at the Leaders sport business conference at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, Montagliani backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino's suggestion that the tournament expand to 48 countries in 2026, with an initial knockout stage and then a 32 team group stage.
"Well I think it's obvious it's not going to stay at 32 (teams) for 2026. I think it's going to obviously change and I think the message from the president is not so much what the number is right now - I think he's had some ideas, 40 or 48 - but the reality is I think we need to look from a growth perspective, having more teams in there," the Canadian said.
"Should we expand? I think the answer is probably yes. Now it's what's the format and all that? It has to work obviously, both from a numbers stand point and obviously from a business stand point. But I think before a final decision is made I am sure that we will do a cost benefit analysis and then land somewhere in terms of what it will look like for 2026."
CONCACAF last hosted a World Cup in 1994, in the United States, and Montagliani said it was time to bring the tournament back to the region in 2026.
Whether that should be a regional bid, or by one of the three big powers Mexico, the United States and Canada, remained open.
"I actually think that it's time it does come back to CONCACAF. We haven't had it since 1994, it's obviously a region that's very rich not only from a footballing stand point but also from a market stand point. We have three countries that have the ability to put on the World Cup on their own. In terms of perhaps a more regional bid there's an opportunity there too, but we'll see what the rules and regulations are early next year when FIFA comes out with them, in terms of what's acceptable and what's not. But I think the time is now for it to come back to our region in 2026," said Montagliani.
The CONCACAF president then suggested that the controversial award of World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar had been good for the sport as it allowed an opportunity to clean up the game.
"I ask you this question: If Russia and Qatar wouldn't have got the World Cups would we be in the situation we are in now, with an opportunity to clean the game? I think that was the starting point and the tipping point for certain things to happen and if that wouldn't have happened, if England and the US would have got the World Cup maybe we would have had status quo and I probably wouldn't be sitting here. So in some regards maybe the best thing to happen to football was Russia and Qatar," he said.
Montagliani also announced that CONCACAF could change its name to create a new brand image and distance itself from a "toxic" past.
The Miami-based confederation has been at the centre of a corruption scandal that has engulfed world football, during which 42 individuals and entities have been charged in the United States on a variety of graft-related offences.
Three past CONCACAF presidents, Trinidad and Tobago's Jack Warner, Cayman Islander Jeffrey Webb and Honduran Alfredo Hawit, have been charged.
The body voted for wide-ranging reforms in February, including a new independent ethics committee.
Montagliani said taking the helm had been eye-opening and the days when a president could do things "with a wink and a nod" were over. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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