FIFA presidential candidate Luís Figo "will hope to convince delegates at this week's Asian Football Confederation Congress that a vote for him would boost the region's chances of more places in future World Cup finals," according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Figo said that "he also wanted more non-Europeans involved in working for FIFA, which should become more of a multi-cultural organisation." The increased popularity of the sport in Asia and rising standards of play "were just two reasons why he wanted to see the World Cup expanded." Figo said, "I think the growing popularity and quality of football in the different regions represented within AFC are arguments in favor of opening the debate around expanding the World Cup to 40 or 48 teams with additional teams weighted towards non-European nations." Figo will also tell Asian delegates of his plan for what he calls "football hubs" involving localized "regular meetings with presidents and general secretaries of national associations." Figo: "I think these would benefit the AFC. Representing countries from the Middle East to Australia, the AFC is the confederation with more time zones than any other" (REUTERS, 4/28). REUTERS' Patrick Johnston wrote Qatar FA VP Saud Al Mohannadi "pulled out of elections" for a place on the FIFA exec committee, saying that West Asia "should support one candidate." Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, "one of sport's most influential powerbrokers in the world, is heavily expected to be voted on to FIFA's decision-making board." Al Mohannadi called on Sheikh Ahmad and Oman's Khalid Al Busaidi "to settle on one candidate from West Asia" (REUTERS, 4/28).
