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GENEVA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona has joined with former players and managers who have supported FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams.
The proposals, which would come into effect at the 2026 edition of football's showpiece event, are to be voted on during a Council meeting taking place at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday.
The reforms are widely expected to pass, despite opposition from Europe.
Maradona, who steered Argentina to 1986 World Cup win and who is considered one of the greatest to ever play the game, spoke after participating in a FIFA legends match alongside Infantino and many other former players.
"I'm delighted by Gianni's initiative because it gives chances to teams that otherwise would start the qualifiers knowing they had no chance of getting to the World Cup," the former striker said.
"It gives each country the dream and it renews the passion for football, it appears to me to be a fantastic idea. We want a FIFA that is clean so people come back to the stadiums, with so much corruption people have got tired of always seeing the same thing," he added.
Maradona's remarks follow support from other high-profile figures within the game this week, including Portugal's Jose Mourinho, the manager of English Premier League side Manchester United.
