UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino on Tuesday promised reforms to make scandal-tainted FIFA "credible" and more money for member countries if elected head of football's world body next month.

Infantino also confirmed in his manifesto that he would increase the World Cup to 40 teams.

The Swiss official, who has been right-hand man to suspended UEFA leader Michel Platini for the past seven years, said "FIFA and football have a lot at stake in this election".

Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter were banned from football activities for eight years last month opening up the election for a new FIFA leader which is to be held in Zurich on February 26.

Infantino is one of five candidates who have all promised to clean up the world body after the Blatter-Platini investigation and a US inquiry which has left 39 individuals and two companies facing charges over bribes for football deals.

Infantino proposed a new FIFA Council for key decisions, 12-year term limits for officials including the president, more "independent voices" on key FIFA committees, declaring the remuneration of top FIFA members, naming a chief compliance officer and establishing a fully open tendering process for the body's multi-billion dollar deals.

"Taken together, these changes will, I believe, put FIFA on the path towards restored credibility and integrity," he said.

Infantino also said FIFA should "aim in the future" to channel 50 percent of its revenues to member associations.

Under his plan each of the 209 member associations would get $5 million over four years for football development projects. Regional confederations would get $40 million over four years.

Infantino said the World Cup should be expanded to 40 teams and there should be a "clear rotation" system for hosting the event with each continent having to wait at least two tournaments before hosting the World Cup again.

Infantino is up against Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain, Prince Ali bin al Hussein, a former FIFA vice president from Jordan, South African business tycoon Tokyo Sexwale and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France.