CONCACAF wants an extra place at 2014 World Cup

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CONCACAF wants FIFA to award them an extra place at the next World Cup, giving the region four guaranteed places for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Under the previous qualifying format used for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football was awarded three automatic places while a fourth team was promoted to a playoff.

But CONCACAF President Jack Warner said on Sunday the region would press FIFA to give them four guaranteed places instead of the current 3.5.

"We believe that CONCACAF deserves another full place at the World Cup finals due to the performances of our teams on the field and the actions of our confederation off it," Warner said in a statement.

"We are unified in our efforts to make this happen."

FIFA has yet to announce the qualifying format for 2014 but Warner said a decision on their request was expected by March.

(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Steve Ginsburg)