The Canadian Soccer Federation President Victor Montagliani says a proposal to possibly increase the number of participating teams at the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 40 is a mouth-watering prospect, but warns that a decision must ultimately be based on sound business fundamentals.

FIFA’s Reform Committee, of which Montagliani is a member, made the proposal and the matter was discussed by the executive committee, but there was no decision on it. It is expected to be further debated.

“But before you come to that decision to increase the number, I think I need to see a proper business plan to see the cost benefit of it… one of the issues we have had in CONCACAF is that we have made a lot of decisions on emotions or political will, rather than on facts and figures, and you can’t run a business that way, or you would be bankrupt,” said the Canadian businessman.

“I don’t think you can increase the number of the World Cup on emotion… I have not seen a proposal that says it’s a win-win situation, so I need to see that it is beneficial from an economic standpoint,” Montagliani told the

Jamaica Observer recently.

If such a proposal should gain traction and subsequently becomes law, it would mean an increase in representation from CONCACAF, a rise from the three-and-half spots available to the confederation made up of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

“It sounds good to increase the numbers, and that would increase CONCACAF’s ability to have more than three-and-half spots, and I think I saw the number five (as possible spots for CONCACAF). But before we can decide on it as a confederation, we need to see the facts clearly,” said the CONCACAF Executive Committee member.

Meanwhile, Montagliani, who is in the race to become CONCACAF’s next president, notes that as a group, the subcontinental organisation is determined to bring the World Cup to the region in 2026.

He disclosed that while the collective desire to host is riding high, it could be premature at this time as to what the specific strategy will be to successfully bring those rights home.

“The presidential election will happen for FIFA soon (February 26) and a new president will be elected and then they will have their first meeting, so maybe it will come out what are the new requirements to host for 2026 and then the race is on.

“I think a lot of us are well-positioned in the international field… and after we see what the rules of engagements are, I think then we have to sit with our members in the confederation who want to host, and to do everything possible as a confederation to devise a strategy to bring it home at the end of the day,” Montagliani said.

CONCACAF would be attempting to effectively end a 32-year drought since the last World Cup came to the region in 1994, when the USA hosted.

It is widely expected that the USA and Mexico would be the front-runners to host the World Cup if a bid is successful, as they, as individuals, possess the physical infrastructure, financial clout, commercial landscape and experience to pull it off.

For the May 12 election for CONCACAF president, Montagliani will enter the starting blocks with Antiguan Gordon Derrick, Bermudan FA boss Larry Mussenden and Guyanese Mark Rodriquez as rivals.