FIFA debates World Cup places

Football’s governing body FIFA will announce on Thursday how many spots each continent will be allocated for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was handed six of the 32 qualification places for the 2010 event in South Africa, with that figure likely to drop given just one African nation – Ghana – made it past the group stage.

North American football body CONCACAF is pushing for another spot to be awarded their way when FIFA decide their allocations in Zurich on Thursday, with talks starting on Wednesday.

CONCACAF had three direct qualifying places for the 2010 tournament, while another country was allowed a play-off with a South American nation for a fourth spot.

South America, represented by CONMEBOL, had four direct entries from qualifying to the 2010 finals, while UEFA (Europe) was the most represented with 13. Asia (AFC) had four, with a fifth nation taking on Oceania’s top country in a play-off for a place.