Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed expanding the World Cup finals to 48 teams – after initially suggesting he wanted to boost it to 40.

According to the 46-year-old Italian, 16 countries would be eliminated after a preliminary knockout round.

The rest of the tournament would then be the same as it is now, with 32 teams competing in the group stages, followed by further knockout rounds.

Infantino said a decision on possible expansion would be taken in January.

“These are ideas to find the best solution,” he said. “We will debate them this month and we will decide everything by 2017.”

Infantino took charge of world football’s governing body in February.

One of his election promises was to expand the World Cup to 40 teams.

Source: BBC Sport

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World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he is “here to stay” after earlier suggesting he had retired from boxing.

The British fighter, who withdrew from his 29 October rematch with Wladimir Klitschko because of reported mental health issues, had tweeted: “I’m the greatest, and also retired.”

But three hours later Fury, 28, was back on social media to suggest his earlier claim had been a joke.

“Hahahaha, you think you will get rid of the Gypsy King that easy?” he said.

“I’m here to stay. #TheGreatest. Just shows you what the media are like. Tut tut.

“Soon as I get better I’ll be defending what’s mine – the heavyweight throne.”

Fury had been scheduled to earn the biggest purse of his career for his second fight with Klitschko at Manchester Arena this month.

Source: BBC Sport

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Marcus Rashford scored a hat-trick on his England Under-21 debut as they thrashed Norway in a European Under-21 Championship qualifier.

The Manchester United man has scored on his debuts in the Premier League and Europa League, as well as for England’s senior side and now the U21s.

The 18-year-old struck from 18 yards before adding a deflected second and scoring a penalty for his third.

Nathaniel Chalobah, Reuben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker also scored.

The comfortable win means Gareth Southgate’s men are now two points clear of Switzerland at the top of their group, with two games left to play and a game in hand on their nearest opponents.

Norway, who had briefly made it 4-1 through Ghayas Zahid’s header, remain third. The top team in each group is assured of reaching next year’s tournament in Poland, with the team finishing second going into a play-off.

Source: BBC Sport

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