LONDON -- A bigger World Cup in 2026 will boost North Americas chances of hosting the tournament, the president of the CONCACAF region told The Associated Press.FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this week raised the prospect of adding another 16 teams to make it a 48-team tournament, a move that would reduce the pool of countries with sufficient infrastructure.From a 2026 perspective, pick a number (of finalists) and North American can handle it, Victor Montagliani, president of the North and Central America and Caribbean soccer confederation, said Tuesday in an interview. A CONCACAF bid would be strong regardless of what number we finally set on.The World Cup was last staged in the CONCACAF region by the United States in 1994. The Americans are eager to get another shot at hosting in 2026, potentially linking up with neighbors Canada and Mexico.Is there an opportunity to combine the three countries? Perhaps. We dont know that yet, said Montagliani, a FIFA vice president. There have been zero formal discussions. We are not there yet.After the troubled bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, which sparked years of corruption investigations, FIFA will be hoping for a smoother vote for 2026. Originally earmarked for 2017, the decision by the FIFA membership is now not due until 2020.With Africa, South America, Europe and Asia hosting the World Cups between 2010 and 2022, it had been widely accepted that it should be North Americas turn for the first time since 1994.FIFAs statues currently prevent consecutive World Cups being staged on the same continent, but China could yet seek to follow 2022 host Qatar. Chinese conglomerate Wanda signed up as a top-tier FIFA sponsor in March saying it wanted to be better placed to help decide where future editions of the World Cup are awarded.There has to be some sort of rotation or else you look what is happening with the Olympics, Montagliani said, referring to Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics between the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and Beijing.I dont think its a good thing that it keeps on going to one area. Its not a World Cup that belongs in one region. So I think so sort of rotation needs to occur because the World Cup belongs to the world and we need to respect that.Montagliani applauded Infantino for thinking outside the box by floating the idea of a 48-team World Cup.There are traditionalists in the game who I think, if it was up to them, would still have a 16-team World Cup, Montagliani said in an interview in London. The reality is that the World Cup is not just an economic beast, but a product that inspires hope for countries. So if we can improve it, make it bigger without losing its romanticism, why not?Before FIFA settles on a new format, Montagliani is sure there will be an exhaustive process of review and cost benefit analysis. The format and bidding process will begin to be discussed next week when Infantino chairs a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich.In outlining one potential format earlier this week, Infantino said, you could have a tournament in which the 16 best teams advance to a group stage and the other 16 will came out of a `playoff ahead of the group stage, and the World Cup could end up with 48 teams.The more pressing issues for FIFA center on the 2018 World Cup with the spotlight increasingly on Russia over racism and doping in sport, and the involvement in the war in Syria.Montagliani sees no need to strip Russia of the World Cup.Its a very delicate situation because we are a sport, he said. You try to as much as possible stay out of the geopolitics of the world because its a just a dangerous thing (to mix) and so it is a bit of walking a tightrope.The contentious dual votes on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups sparked years of criminal investigations and FIFA inquiries.FIFA said there was not sufficient evidence to warrant removing their countrys hosting rights. But before being banned and ousted from the FIFA presidency, Sepp Blatter said last year that American authorities would not have indicted more than 40 people in its soccer investigation had it not been for the 2010 vote outcome.To Montagliani it was the tipping point, providing an opportunity to clean the game.In some regards maybe the best thing that happened in football was Russia and Qatar, Montagliani said in a speech Wednesday at the Leaders sports business conference in London.---Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReportsAuthentic Soccer Jerseys . 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Cheap Soccer Jerseys China .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city.INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck is tired of talking football.Hes ready to actually play.Sure, Saturdays game against Baltimore is only a preseason opportunity to match wits with one of the leagues traditionally strong defenses. Yes, its at home, where he hasnt suited up in more than nine months. And, of course, hes eager to prove hes back to his old self.The Colts quarterback just doesnt want to make more of it than necessary.Its another step, Luck said Tuesday. In any seasons journey, regardless of what happened the previous year, it will be good to step on the field and run some plays with the guys.This year is different, though.Many fans have eagerly awaited Lucks return from an injury-marred 2015, a season in which the three-time Pro Bowler went 2-5 as the starter, was on pace to throw far more interceptions than any of his previous three seasons in the league and failed to make the playoffs for the first time. Initially, it looked like the comeback journey would begin Aug. 7 at Canton, Ohio -- until the game was canceled because of unsafe field conditions.Last week, coach Chuck Pagano implied that his starters were likely to play one or two series as had been the case in previous seasons. Eventually, he decided not to take any chances with Luck on a rainy day Buffalo or against the Bills blitz-happy defense.The next chance comes this weekend, and all indications are that Luck will finally play.I assume so, he said with a laugh.If Luck he does make it onto the field Saturday, the to-do list will be long.First, he must get acclimated to taking snaps under game conditions from rookie center Ryan Kelly, the Colts first-round draft pick. Kelly played 15 snaps in last weekends 19-18 victory over the Bills.It will mark the first time Luck runs Rob Chudzinskis revamped offense against an opponent. Chudzinski took over as coordinator when Pep Hamilton was fired in November but waited until the offseason to install his entire offense.This game also could be the firsst real test of how the new play-calling system works.dddddddddddd Chudzinski intends to take advantage of a rules change that allows coordinators to call plays from the coaches booth directly to the quarterback. Previously, play calls from the coaches box had to be called to sideline and relayed to the quarterback.While Luck cant wait to get back to work and beyond some of the lingering questions about his health and performance, some teammates are excited to see Luck play for the first time since sustaining a lacerated kidney against Denver on Nov. 8.Absolutely, I want to see him play, Pro Bowl linebacker Robert Mathis said. Hes our franchise quarterback.Pagano acknowledged Tuesday that the Colts were pretty vanilla in their play-calling last weekend and has not dropped any hints about whether that will change with Luck presumably behind center. He is keeping the play-count on Luck a secret, too.Receiver T.Y. Hilton, Lucks favorite target, doesnt expect Luck to be rusty after such a long absence.Thats what OTAs and minicamps are for, Hilton said. Hes ready and I want him out there.Luck wants to be out there leading and inspiring his teammates for as long as he can -- just like any other game.Ive always thought that the first preseason game as a rookie is a special, special thing. Its the first time you go and put on a uniform, then after that they are all somewhat the same in a sense, Luck said. Its not to downplay any of them, there are things you get better at. Winning regular season games is the important thing.Note: The Colts released veteran receiver Josh Boyce on Tuesday. Afterward, Pagano said the Colts were hoping to get more looks at the receivers currently on the roster -- and perhaps a free agent they may sign before Saturday.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '