Zurich, Switzerland - Jan 10, 2017
1.Sign reading "FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association)"
2. Exterior of FIFA building
3. Flags
4. Various of statue
5. President of FIFA Giovanni Infantino speaking at podium
6. Various of soccer balls on display
7. SOUNDBITE (English) (with reporter asking question) Kozo Tashima, Vice President, Japan Football Association:
(Reporter: "Asian regime is fighting for the eight positions and half, do you think we can get it in the future?")
"We didn't discuss about the slot, but of course, we will have some negotiations with other confederations, we need possible more number of slots."
8. Various of outside of FIFA building
9. Statue of soccer ball

Sao Paulo, Brazil - Jan 10, 2017
10. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Rafael Oliveira, soccer commentator.
"FIFA intends to make the World Cup a great ceremony and earn more profit, but if the event fails to meet the current quality, people will lose interest and then I really doubt whether there still will be so many people willing to travel across the world to watch the games."

Bogota, Colombia - Jan 10, 2017
11. Various of website showing news about World Cup expansion
12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Philips Valderrama, sports journalist.
"I think the phenomenon of the football players' overpriced value is a great threat to the football industry and will make some countries loose competitiveness, especially the Latin American countries. A lot of players will go to other countries to play in their young age, because the Latin American countries cannot afford the high salaries for them."
13. Various of website showing news about World Cup expansion

Reactions from across the world are mixed regarding the expansion of the World Cup made by FIFA on Tuesday.

FIFA decided in favor of expanding the FIFA World Cup from a 32-team to a 48-team competition as of the 2026 World Cup.

The announcement was made by the incumbent FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) President Giovanni Infantino at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

The vice president of the Japan Football Association believes such change increases the possibility for Asian countries to get more seats in the World Cup.

"We will have some negotiations with other confederations, we need possible more number of slots," Kozo Tashima, vice president of the Japan Football Association.

The expansion of World Cup will definitely increase the earnings from television broadcasts and ticket proceeds, but worries are rising considering that more teams' involvement may reduce the level of competition.

"FIFA intends to make the World Cup a great ceremony and earn more profit, but if the event fails to meet the current quality, people will lose interest and then I really doubt whether there still will be so many people willing to travel across the world to watch the games," said Rafael Oliveira, a soccer commentator.

The expansion of World Cup is a double-edged sword to the Latin American football industry, said some experts from Columbia.

The decision on extra qualification can make the football industry more internationalized, and provide more opportunities for the outstanding football players from Latin America to play in other countries, some experts said.

But on the other hand,the decision may cause the outflow of young players to other countries that can give them extremely high salaries.

"I think the phenomenon of the football players' overpriced value is a great threat to the football industry and will make some countries loose competitiveness, especially the Latin American countries. A lot of players will go to other countries to play in their young age, because the Latin American countries cannot afford the high salaries for them," said Philips Valderrama, a sports journalist.