‘MORE GAMES MAY NOT SUIT QATAR PLANS’

RUSSIA 2018 boss Alexey Sorokin believes expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams would present Qatar with a ‘domino effect’ of logistical issues that the Gulf state might not want to tackle.

FIFA has already agreed to increase the number of teams at the World Cup from 32 to 48 in 2026, when Canada, Mexico and the United States will host the tournament.

The idea to expand the tournament was championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and he has made it clear that he does not want to wait until 2026 to see the World Cup grow from 64 games to 80.

Publicly, Qatar has made polite noises about being willing to discuss the idea but is understood to have serious reservations about such a huge change, particularly as they are already eight years into a 12-year building programme.

‘It’s important to remember what the country has bid for and planned for,’ said Sorokin. ‘To change that is not a minor decision. There is a domino effect of going from 32 teams to 48.

‘It will take a lot of specific planning, involving thousands of people. So, for now, no decision has been taken.

‘It’s important to listen to Qatar to find out if their infrastructure is up to it. So it’s not about them discussing this with their neighbours. It’s an important decision and it should be between them and FIFA.’