FIFA president Gianni Infantino has assured Africa of at least seven places if the World Cup is expanded to a Forty-eight-team tournament in 2026.

Reacting to African football leaders, who last week asked FIFA to double the continent’s current allocation of five places when the tournament is expanded, Infantino said the number could rise further depending on agreement with the FIFA council.

“Africa will have seven or more countries in the FIFA World Cup due to the FIFA Council’s confirmation of forty-eight countries which will participate at the tournament,” Infantino said.

The proposed new format will see an initial stage of sixteen groups of three teams, followed by a knockout stage for the remaining thirty-two.

The number of tournament matches will rise from sixty-four to eighty, but the eventual winners will still play only seven games.