Qatar ponders bigger tourney

– Fifa president Gianni Infantino (above) said yesterday that expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams was “feasible”, as hosts Qatar pledged to come to a decision early next year.

Infantino said, “why not” bring forward the expansion from 32 teams to the 48 currently due at the 2026 tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.

“We have decided... to increase the number of teams participating in the World Cup final tournaments from 32 to 48,” Infantino told the Asian Football Confederation’s annual congress in Kuala Lumpur. “It will happen in 2026. Will it happen in 2022? You know me. It is possible.”

Infantino said an expanded tournament would see Asia’s allocation rise from 4.5 places to 8.5, raising cheers from delegates.

“We are discussing with our Qatari friends. We are discussing with many other friends in the region,” he said.

Accommodating another 16 teams would vastly complicate Qatar’s task in preparing for the World Cup. –

Kuala Lumpur