ZURICH, March 15: FIFA has rejected a proposal for more teams to take part in the women’s World Cup in 2011.

The number of teams will remain at 16, the same as the last three tournaments, FIFA said on Friday.

FIFA’s executive committee said having 24 countries for the tournament in Germany risked too great a difference in the quality of teams.

Another proposal for 20 teams was rejected as too difficult to arrange.

Theo Zwanziger, president of the German soccer federation, said the next step would be to decide which cities will host the 32 games.

“Three to four games per city seems appropriate,” Zwanziger said. “I think we will be able to present our World Cup locations in the fall.”—AP