WORLD soccer governing body FIFA voted to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026 in a victory Tuesday for its president Gianni Infantino but derided by critics as driven by money and politics.

    In a deeply divisive move that will enrich scandal-tainted FIFA’s coffers, its ruling council unanimously adopted an expanded format with 16 groups of three nations that will bring “benefits without negatives,” said Infantino.

    “We have to shape the World Cup of the 21st Century... football is more than Europe and South America,” the FIFA president, who had pushed hard for the change, said after the vote.

    “Many more countries will have the chance to dream.”

    It represents the first major alteration to the World Cup since the tournament was boosted from 24 to the current 32 teams for the 1998 tournament in France.

    But its many critics strongly oppose the latest move and it was branded a “money grab and power grab” by New FIFA Now, a group campaigning for reform of FIFA.

    Infantino took over the body 11 months ago with a vow to repair the damage done during Sepp Blatter’s tenure by growing soccer across the globe.

    Enlarging the World Cup was the centerpiece of that vision, but opponents say a bigger tournament will dilute the quality of play and overburden already exhausted players, particularly in Europe’s money-rich leagues.

    Soccer’s powerful European Club Association (ECA) reiterated its strong opposition, describing the current World Cup model as “the perfect formula.”

    “We understand that this decision has been taken based on political reasons rather than sporting ones and under considerable political pressure, something ECA believes is regrettable,” the body which represents Europe’s leading clubs said in a statement.

    Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish La Liga, made no attempt to hide his disgust.

    “FIFA is doing politics. Gianni Infantino is doing politics,” he thundered.

    “To be elected he promised more countries at the World Cup. He wants to honor his electoral promises.

    “It is without our agreement and it makes us very angry.”

    European governing body UEFA offered a tepid acceptance, saying it decided to back the plan once “it was clear that all other confederations were overwhelmingly in favor.”

    The new format envisages 80 matches — 16 more than the current setup — but will still be played over the same 32 days, a nod to opponents who fear player burn-out.(SD-Agencies)