Jose Mourinho: 'Totally in favor' of 48-team World Cup

FIFA's mission to expand the World Cup has a major ally in the shape of "The Special One" -- Jose Mourinho.

Currently manager of English Premier League team Manchester United, Mourinho has backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to increase the size of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.

The head of world soccer's governing body made the idea a key plank of his manifesto prior to his election in February 2016 and is adamant the game must be more inclusive.

And now he has receiving the backing of Mourinho, a man who has won league titles in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy, and is a two-time winner of the European Champions League.

"I'm totally in favor," Mourinho told FIFA's website. "As a club manager, if the expansion meant more games, less holidays and less pre-season for players, I would say no.

"But it's important for critics to analyze and understand that expansion doesn't mean more matches. Players are protected and clubs are protected in this way."

Currently, 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, with the top two from each going through to the last 16 knockout stages.

FIFA's preferred method of expansion would see 48 teams compete in 16 groups of three, the top two progressing to the last 32, when the competition reverts to a straight knockout.

The proposal will be discussed and voted on at the next meeting of FIFA's Council on January 9.

"I prefer groups of three. Two matches and then through to the knockout stages or go home," Mourinho explained.

"This way, the two group matches are crucial, then the knockout stage is next which brings even more emotion. Teams with less potential and experience will probably play two matches and go home.

"But they would do so having improved and gained experience on the pitch, which would be added to the economic rewards of appearing at the finals -- including further investment in their footballing infrastructure."

While Mourinho is an advocate of an expanded World Cup, the likes of Germany coach Joachim Low, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and the organization that speaks for Europe's biggest football clubs have all criticized FIFA's proposal.

There are a few other options on the table -- Infantino's original proposal of a playoff round to eliminate 16 teams before the group stages, and a 40-team World Cup with either 10 groups of four or eight groups of five will be considered. The fourth option is to keep the World Cup as it is.

But Mourinho thinks the bigger the better -- and that an enlarged World Cup will be of benefit to soccer in smaller countries and help grow the game.

"The expansion means that the World Cup will be even more of an incredible social event. More countries, more investment in different countries in infrastructure, in youth football," Mourinho added.

"More nations taking part means more passion, more happiness, more enthusiasm. More countries means more Africans, Asians, Americans together.

"Football is developed in the clubs, so we can't expect football to explode in terms of quality at a World Cup. The World Cup is a social event and football can't relinquish this opportunity to further reflect fans' passion."

CNN