A 2014 World Cup football. [Photo/Agencies]?

FIFA, football's international governing body, is set to expand the number of teams taking part in the World Cup finals to 40 from the present 32 sides, the Guardian said, without saying where it obtained the information.

The proposal, to be discussed at a meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee in Zurich today, is aimed at mollifying critics who say the current format gives too much emphasis to European teams, the Guardian said.

Expansion would allow FIFA to offer more slots to teams outside Europe, in Asia and Oceania.

Currently Africa has five places in the finals, Asia four and a half, Europe 13, North and Central America three and a half, South America four and a half, Oceania half a place, with one going to the host nation.

The next World Cup will be held in Russia in 2018.

To contract the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com