FIFA have rejected the Republic Of Ireland's appeal to be the 33rd team in 2010 World Cup.
The FAI approached Sepp Blatter last Friday to ask if they could be the 33rd team in the World Cup Finals in South Africa after their play-off second leg against France was marred by a controversial goal.
FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke has said: "There is no hope at all that there will be more than 32 teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"There was a request made by the Irish when we met them in Zurich a few days ago. "They asked the question but the Fifa president was very clear in saying it was impossible because if we did so then way not Costa Rica and others?
"We told them that because they were making a special request that we would bring it to the attention of the FIFA executive committee members and it is what we will do.
"But you can imagine what it would mean, I would not say it is a nonsense, but it is impossible.