ZURICH • Fifa has abandoned plans to expand the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams and play some games in neighbouring countries.
Gianni Infantino, the president of the world football governing body, had been pushing for the tournament to grow from 32 teams, with some matches being played elsewhere in the Middle East.
However, Fifa had to accept that it would be too challenging to do so.
The political problems in the Middle East have proved insurmountable, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain all blockading host Qatar.
They were three of five countries, including Kuwait and Oman, earmarked as potential hosts for the expanded matches, with Infantino seeing the multiple hosts as a way of ending the embargo and any threat it could pose to the competition.
A Fifa statement on Wednesday read: "In line with the conclusions of the feasibility study approved by the Fifa Council at its last meeting, Fifa and Qatar have jointly explored all possibilities to increase the number of participant teams from 32 to 48 teams by involving neighbouring countries at the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.
"Following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, it was concluded that under the current circumstances, such a proposal could not be made now."
Â
Â
The organisers of the 2022 World Cup issued their own statement, saying: "Qatar had always been open to the idea of an expanded tournament in 2022 had a viable operating model been found and had all parties concluded that an expanded 48-team edition was in the best interest of football and Qatar as the host nation."
The quadrennial event had already been shortened to 28 days as it is being played in November and December, which is in the middle of the European football season.
The expansion plan would have led to up to six matches being played a day, with as little as 48 hours between games for some teams in the group stage.
This had drawn opposition from FIFPro, the international players' union.
The news also came after Europe's top football clubs said in March that they would boycott an expanded 24-team Club World Cup - also backed by Infantino - which is planned to take place from June 17 to July 4 in 2021, replacing the Confederations Cup international tournament.
The 48-team 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will comprise 16 groups of three teams, with only the bottom side in each group going out to make up a first knockout round of 32.
There will be a total of 80 matches to be played in the tournament, compared with 64 under the existing format.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NYTIMES, THE TIMES, LONDON
Cliftonville pair Liam Boyce and Conor Devlin aim to secure the Premiership title in Saturday's clash against Linfield at Solitude. The Reds will secure the Gibson Cup if they beat the reigning
Destiny | Reddit
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury. and Qatar's Salem Alhajri vie for the ball during a friendly football match at the Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia on June 5, 2019, ahead of
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury - sports.yahoo.com
Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Sissoko says he was unaware Raheem Sterling's goal was disallowed Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Sissoko did not realise his side had advanced to the Champions League semi-finals until a member of the coaching staff informed him in the dressing room that Manchester City's last-gasp goal had been disallowed.
Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling goal
Tottenham have got their edge back and now Harry Kane has a new task for them, trying to make Wembley Stadium feel like home. Spurs host KAA Gent on Thursday needing a two goal win to stay in the
Tottenham news recap: Striker agrees January exit, Pochettino
Almoez Ali scored with a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the Asian Cup to set Qatar on their way to a first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions
Football: Ali on target as Qatar stun Japan to win first
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be favourite to be named Manchester United manager next season because he has restored the club's "culture and identity" after being put in caretaker charge, according to former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says
inewstoday.net/2019/03/solskjaer-has-restored-uniteds-culture-and-identity-says/
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says former treble teammate Schmeichel. Ross Houston. Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday.
Solskjaer has restored Man United identity, says Schmeichel
Premier League: Returning Mesut Ozil has Arsenal future says Unai Emery Description: Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has missed four recent games with a back problem but has started just once since November 11 -- and that was a Europa League dead rubber at home to Qarabag.
Football news - Mesut Ozil still has an Arsenal future, says
Jurgen Klopp vowed this season was just the "first step" for his Liverpool team as he congratulated Manchester City on pipping his side to the Premier League title on Sunday. Liverpool beat
Klopp: Premier League near-miss is only Liverpool's 'first step'
Cristiano Ronaldo responds as Virgil van Dijk emerges as favourite for Ballon d'Or. Cristiano Ronaldo came up against Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as Portugal beat Holland in the UEFA
Atletico spoil Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Madrid Juve's
May 08, 2019 · Sharks captain Joe Pavelski opens scoring in Game 7 win in emotional return from injury. Joe Pavelski, playing his first game in two weeks, opened the scoring for the San Jose Sharks in their Game
Yankees avoid sweep in Cleveland despite brutal bullpen, win
Chelsea Boss Sarri Demands More From Hazard. he's more an individual player than a leader," said Sarri on Wednesday. In an interview with France Football, this week Hazard again raised
0 comments:
Post a Comment