Economic And Political Reasons Behind Euro 2016 Expansion

Economic concerns and sports political issues were the reasons behind the Euro 2016 expansion, according to the DPA. UEFA's decision to expand Euro 2016 from 16 to 24 teams will "generate a considerably higher revenue." The tournament's advertising partners, which invest millions, are interested in a "high number of participants and extended live coverage." Critics said that the "quality of play will deteriorate" due to the increased number of teams that cannot compete with elite nations. UEFA President Michel Platini said, "I'm not overly concerned about the quality of play. We can easily have eight more teams, and they are just as good as the rest of the field" (DPA, 6/28).