FIFA World Cup

The revamped tournament would include a guaranteed slot for Oceania for the first time, 16 places for Europe - up from 13 - and a six-team inter-zonal play-off tournament for two more spots.

Currently the winner of the Oceania confederation must play the fifth-placed South American side for a place at the tournament.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin said they've been lobbying for such changes for years.

The sports governing body said its decision-making panel voted unanimously in favour of the change, which will be introduced at the 2026 tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who replaced the disgraced Sepp Blatter in February, had made World Cup expansion one of his promises during his successful electoral campaign.

Infantino had initially suggested a 40-team tournament but then added another eight to that total in October.