FIFA president Gianni Infantino looking to expand World Cup to 48 teams

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he is looking to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, with the governing body aiming to reach a decision by 2017.

However, he suggested that 16 of those teams would go home after just one knockout match, and the remainder of the tournament would be played, as now, with a 32-team group stage, followed by a knockout phase.

The Telegraph reports that Infantino, speaking during an event in Colombia, said a final decision would be taken by the FIFA Council in January.

"These are ideas to find the best solution. We will debate them this month and we will decide everything by 2017," Infantino is quoted as saying. "They are ideas which we put forward to see which one is the best."

Infantino was elected as FIFA president in February to replace Sepp Blatter, who received a six-year ban for ethics violations.