By Andrew Warshaw in Moscow
June 11 – The chances of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being expanded to 48 teams appear to have faded as quickly as they arose.
Plans for a feasibility study have been put on hold and the idea pulled from Wednesday’s FIFA Congress after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said agreement from the Gulf nation is a “precondition.”
In April, seemingly with Infantino’s blessing, the South American Conmebol confederation proposed that rather than start with 48 teams in 2026, the move from 32 finalists could be brought forward to 2022.
Last week Infantino seemed to backtrack on the idea and has now further conceded it is a long way from coming to fruition, not least no doubt because of the fact that Qatar is planning to build only eight stadiums, far fewer than would be required for 48 teams.
The 2022 finals have already been thrown into unchartered territory by being moved to November because of the heat.
Only by sharing the finals could an expanded finals be possible but that looks increasingly awkward because of the ongoing diplomatic rift between Qatar and its Saudi-led neighbours and now Infantino has acknowledged that FIFA’s full Congress – which is made up of 211 federations – will no longer have a say in the matter.
“The final decision is that the (FIFA) council will decide,” Infantino said after Sunday’s council meeting in Moscow. “But obviously it cannot decide this without the agreement with the hosts of Qatar. That’s a precondition obviously.”
“It’s really premature to discuss about any of the details about it,” Infantino said. “The FIFA administration will discuss with the hosts and then we will see. For the moment what there is, is a World Cup with 32 teams being played.”
Meanwhile a new formula that rewards teams for playing more games was approved by the Council and takes effect in July.
The current system has been in place since 1993 and allows to teams boost their ranking by avoiding friendlies.
“The new formula (is) more intuitive and accurate, eliminating the potential for ranking manipulation,” FIFA said.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713624973labto1713624973ofdlr1713624973owedi1713624973sni@w1713624973ahsra1713624973w.wer1713624973dna1713624973