FIFA Set to Decide on Brazil 2014 World Cup Places

[Blue_Tires]

(WFI) FIFA will next week decide how many places each of its six confederations will get at the 2014 World Cup.

CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, and the Asian Football Confederation want four-and-a-half places, while CONCACAF is pushing for an increase from three to four berths in the 32-team tournament.

The continental bodies argue that their teams' performances at the World Cup and since the South African tournament deserve to be rewarded by FIFA.

The Oceania Football Confederation is hoping for one direct berth after New Zealand's successful run in the 2010 FIFA showpiece. The All Whites drew three matches at the World Cup, finishing above Italy but failing to make the second round. But they only got to the World Cup after a two-legged play-off against Bahrain.

The Confederation of African Football seems the likely loser when the FIFA Executive Committee settles the matter at a meeting in Zurich on March 2-3.

Five of Africa's six teams at the 2010 World Cup failed to make the second stage of the tournament, with only Ghana qualifying only to lose out to Uruguay.

UEFA seems to set to retain the 13 places it had at the World Cup, which concluded with Spain beating Holland in the final.

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=34175