BORDEAUX, France — UEFA has agreed to expand the European Championship to 24 teams starting in 2016.

Franz Beckenbauer, a FIFA executive member who sits in on UEFA's executive committee meetings as a nonvoting observer, said Thursday the decision will be officially ratified and announced Friday.

The European Championship currently has 16 teams.

Beckenbauer said organizing the tournament would prove more difficult because fewer countries would have the means to accommodate 24 teams.

"Quality-wise there is no difference, the question is organizing it," Beckenbauer said. "A lot more games. That is another point. But quality-wise it is OK."

UEFA on Friday will also discuss the state of preparations for the 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine