Infantino: expansion of World Cup 2022 is possible
It will happen in 2026. Will it happen in 2022? You know me. We are discussing it with many friends in the region GIANNI INFANTINO
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams was “feasible” yesterday, as hosts Qatar pledged to come to a decision in the early part of next year.
Infantino said he could not see any reason not to bring forward the expansion from 32 teams to 48, which is currently due at the 2026 tournament in the United States, 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. It is possible. Why not?” he added.
Infantino said an expanded tournament would see Asia’s allocation rise from 4.5 places to 8.5, raising cheers from the delegates assembled at a luxury hotel in the Malaysian capital.
“You will have [a bigger] chance. It is possible. It is feasible. We are discussing with our Qatari friends. We are discussing with many other friends in the region. We hope we have it happen. We always have to try,” he said.
Accommodating another 16 teams would vastly complicate Qatar’s task in preparing for the World Cup, which was awarded to the tiny Gulf country in 2010.
Qatar has also been involved in a stand-off with neighbours Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt, who have cut off diplomatic relations and imposed a boycott on the country, accusing it of endorsing terror activities.
Hassan Al Thawadi, head of the 2022 organising body said that Qatar was studying the 48 teams proposal and would make a decision before qualifying gets under way.
“We are still looking at the feasibility studies and we
will be in a better position to provide a feedback in the future,” he said.
“But it will be decided before the qualifications ... sometime in the first quarter of next year.”
Ahead of Fifa’s presidential election next year, Infantino said 180 out of the 211 federations had given him their support.
“You know there is an election coming. I have announced I will be a [presidential] candidate. I have received over 180 letters of support,” he said.
“And when it comes to Asia, only a couple are missing.”
Meanwhile, Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa called for “fair play” in next year’s elections where he will seek a fresh, four-year term as president.
The Bahraini royal said he had the support of nearly 90 per cent of the AFC’s 46 full members, but warned against “third-party interference” in the vote next April.
Sheikh Salman first took the reins in 2013 when the Asian body was still reeling from a corruption scandal which saw his predecessor, Mohamed bin Hammam, banned from football for life.
“In Asia and particularly here at the AFC, we have built a positive reputation and image in the last five years,” he told the AFC annual congress in Kuala Lumpur.
“We do not need nor do we want any third-party interference or influence in our elections. We need to be strong on this matter.”