2022 World Cup: FIFA To Explore And Expand From 32 To 48 Teams - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Abubakar Abubakar
March 16, 2019
FIFA’s council has approved workingwith hosts Qatar to explore expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams by addingat least one more country in the Gulf to host football matches.
The president of football’sgoverning body Gianni Infantino, wants to enlarge the tournament from 32 to 48teams, which a FIFA feasibility study said would require at least oneadditional country to be used among five nations identified as possibilities.
The council approved furtherdiscussions with Qatar to produce a proposal for consideration in June whenFIFA’s congress meet in Paris ahead of the Women’s World Cup.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino saidfollowing the council meeting in Miami, in the United States. In 2017, the bodydecided that the 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams when it is co-hosted bythe US, Canada and Mexico.
The Associated Press on Mondayrevealed details of a FIFA feasibility study that said Qatar would not beforced to share games with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emiratesunless those countries restore ties with Doha.