World Cup Expands : Tournament Grows to 32 Teams in ’98

Perhaps driven by political and financial considerations, soccer’s governing body voted Friday to expand the World Cup to 32 teams from 24 starting with the 1998 tournament.

The decision, taken after FIFA President Joao Havelange promised an expanded tournament as part of his re-election campaign, was made in a unanimous vote by FIFA’s executive committee. Twelve additional games promise to generate more revenue from the world’s most-watched sporting event.

The tournament’s first round will expand to eight groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the second round. Currently, there are six groups with the top two teams and the four best third-place teams advancing.

This summer’s World Cup calls for 52 games in 31 days in nine U.S. cities. The decision to play the 1998 tournament in France was made two years ago.

“The competition will not take longer. We don’t need more stadia,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said.

FIFA didn’t decide on the allocation of teams, saying it probably would make the decision at the executive committee’s meeting in December.

Europe has 13 of the 24 berths this year, with South American and Africa getting three each, and Asia and the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region getting two. South America won an additional berth contested by itself, CONCACAF and Oceania.