FIFA president Gianni Infantino is ready to take his controversial 48-team World Cup idea to the next stage this week with discussions over the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup set to take place.
The FIFA Council are set to meet on Thursday and Friday in Zurich and have yet to confirm the size of the tournament or which continents will be eligible.
Infantino had drawn up a timetable in May, which suggested a decision on the idea would be due this week, but that has now been put back until January 2017.
It is thought that the number of entrants will be the biggest issue discussed.
Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter this year and used a 40-team World Cup as part of his campaign and last week suggested that could inflate to as many as 48 teams.
There would be a 32-team preliminary knockout round played in the host country, with the 16 winners entering the group stage with 16 more entrants who would be handed byes.
Infantino will attempt to convince the Council that it is a good idea, despite 16 teams potentially flying across the world to play just one match.
Real Madrid set for £360m roof at Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid will add a retractable roof to the Santiago Bernabeu after finally reaching an agreement with the city to remodel the stadium.
Madrid president Florentino Perez revealed on Tuesday the project would cost 400 million euros (£360m) with construction expected to start next year.
The revamped venue, which will also carry a new facade, is expected to be fully completed by 2020.
“We will see a dramatic transformation of the Santiago Bernabeu,” Perez said.
“This stadium is one of the emblematic icons of our city and we want to make it one of the best stadiums in the world and the undisputed symbol of the strength of our capital.”
Madrid had tried to remodel its famed venue on several occasions but earlier projects were rejected by the city and court decisions.
“With this agreement we will start a process of modernisation and transformation that will convert the stadium into an avant-garde architectural icon,” Perez added.
“This stadium will act as an economic and touristic invigorator and will contribute to strengthening the image of our city.”
The venue, originally inaugurated in 1947, will maintain its capacity of more than 80,000, although the seating sections may be redesigned. One of the stadium’s most notable features, the four corner access towers, will be covered by the new facade.
Perez said the Bernabeu would maintain its name, but it may gain a “surname” from a sponsor like at stadiums “everywhere in the world”.
Because of the agreement with the city, Madrid will not be allowed to increase the total size of the structures already in place, so it will have to rearrange the current constructions to be able to remodel the venue.
