Final decision on 48-team World Cup likely in June

MIAMI: FIFA’S ruling council has not ruled out expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams but a final decision will probably be pushed back until June, a source close to world football’s governing body said.

FIFA’S feasibility study on the tournament envisages some additional games in an expanded World Cup possibly being held in other countries, with Kuwait and Oman mentioned as options.

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and nonGulf state Egypt cut political, trade, and transport ties with Qatar in June, 2017. The countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies. While Qatari organisers are working with FIFA on further studies of the options, they retain a veto over any change to the tournament, scheduled for Nov. 2022.

The source said that the council meeting is likely to conclude on Friday with an expression of support for continued investigation of the possibility of adding an extra 16 teams to the tournament. The council will meet again shortly before the June 5 congress in Paris and they are then expected to put their recommendation to the full members.

UNITED SEEK WIN

WOLVERHAMPTON: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will look for Manchester United to respond to the first domestic defeat of his reign when they face Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday as the Norwegian moves closer to landing the job on a permanent basis. United’s Champions League victory at Paris SaintGermain last week carried them through to the last eight and all but confirmed Solskjaer will soon be named Jose Mourinho’s successor on a long-term basis.

Since that win, United have tasted defeat for the first time in England under Solskjaer’s watch, beaten 2-0 in last weekend’s league visit to Arsenal.

Some reports have suggested Solskjaer could be confirmed as manager during the forthcoming international break, which follows the Wolves Cup tie. United officials have offered no guidance on whether the appointment is imminent.