The 2022 World Cup in Qatar could have 48 teams instead of 32 after FIFA President Gainnt Infantino reacted positively to a proposal from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to expand the tournament, newswires reported yesterday.
FIFA last year approved a 48-team World Cup in 2026, but moves are now gaining ground that would see the plan fast-tracked and implemented in Qatar, a decision that raises the possibility of the country sharing some matches with its neighbours.
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez on Thursday handed over a letter at the organisation’s congress in Buenos Aires to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, signed by the heads of the 10 South American federations, urging the early expansion.
“As we do believe in big and because we want to do justice [for more teams],” Dominguez said to Infantino during the CONMEBOL meeting in Buenos Aires, “we ask that the 2022 World Cup is played with 48 teams.”
Infantino called the proposal “interesting” saying FIFA would study the pros and cons of the proposal.
“It seems to me a very interesting idea,” Infantino said after attending the CONMEBOL meeting.
“Of course we have to study the feasibility of this proposal. If it’s possible, if it is feasible, if the others agree too, because it is not a decision that only the president of FIFA or CONMEBOL make ... of course we are going to study it.
“And I really think it is something very interesting. We have to study it seriously and if it is possible, why not?”
If the plan is found feasible it would help FIFA to generate more revenue to replenish the coffers hit by corruption scandals and potentially strengthen Infantino’s position among the 211 membership before seeking re-election next year.
“I firmly believe as president of FIFA in an enlargement of participating national teams because I am convinced that it is good for the development of football all over the world,” Infantino said. “That is why we have proposed it and that is why we have agreed to it since 2026.”
Qatar currently has plans to build eight stadiums, whereas bidders for the 48-team 2026 tournament have been told they need 12 venues. Instead of building more stadiums in Qatar, the easier option to accommodate the leap from 64 to 80 matches would be to share games with some neighbouring countries.
Qatar won the FIFA vote in 2010 on the vision that the World Cup would benefit the entire Middle East, but the country’s illegal blockade by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain has complicated matters. Previous camaraderie has given way to an atmosphere of serious distrust.
Kuwait and Oman, which have excellent relations with Qatar, could be the co-hosts. Qatar played an important role in FIFA lifting a ban on Kuwait hosting international matches.
Subsequently, the Gulf Cup, which was to be hosted by Qatar, was shifted to Kuwait.
Qatar World Cup organising committee secretary-general Hassan al-Thawadi has not ruled out the possibility of sharing matches with neighbours.
“Qatar has always been open to dialogue,” al-Thawadi had told The Associated Press in November.
“It’s always been open and it’s always supported our brother nations, to the extent that if [sharing the World Cup] was the ultimate goal, all that would have required was a simple conversation.”
The Qatar tournament is already due to operate on a tight 28-day schedule to please club sides after FIFA shifted the event from its usual June-July slot to November-December because of the extreme heat in the desert nation.
The compact tournament schedule was agreed to minimise disruption to club schedules after FIFA faced opposition from within the European Club Association.
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