FIFA shelves plans to expand 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will remain at 32 teams, FIFA announced on Wednesday, shelving a proposal that would have expanded the tournament to 48 teams for the first time.
“Following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, it was concluded that under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now,” the statement read.
FIFA and Qatar attempted to expand the tournament “by in particular lowering certain key FIFA requirements,” according to the statement, but “due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June.”
“It was therefore decided not to further pursue this option,” FIFA said in the statement.
Several obstacles prevented the expansion from occurring, including a blockade imposed on Qatar by neighbors such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, all of which would have been considered to be co-hosts to assist the small Arab country.
Earlier this week, organizers in Qatar were doubtful about the expansion, saying that “there will be no decision imposed” unless it benefited the country.
An ambitious effort
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will NOT have a 48-team field. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/pRwUqXbWGh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 22, 2019
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had been attempting to bring 48 teams to Qatar after FIFA approved the 16-team expansion for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Infantino explained that he wanted the World Cup to be “more inclusive” and that “football is more than just Europe and South America, football is global."
Infantino’s goal will have to wait another four years. It shouldn’t be an issue for the 2026 World Cup to feature 48 teams, considering the vast array of stadiums in North America. But it would have been ambitious to try to add 16 teams for the World Cup in Qatar, which has already been criticized for human rights violations and had to move the tournament to the winter of 2022 because of the unbearable summer heat.
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