48 teams or 32, we’ll have a fantastic World Cup, says Infantino
Doha, Qatar: FIFA President Gianni Infantino refused to rule out the possibility of Qatar World Cup being 48-team tournament, saying that most of the member federations at the three-day FIFA Executive Summit in Doha, which concluded on Thursday, were in favour of it.
Infantino, personally, also was in favour of an extended tournament saying it would allow fifty of sixty more countries to dream about qualifying and playing in the tournament besides actually accommodating 16 more than the current 32 teams.
“We will look into that (the possibility of a 48-team tournament). We will gather the opinions of the member federations, and so far many of them are in favour for 48 teams in 2022 as it allows more sides to qualify from each continent,” said Infantino at a media conference at a hotel in Doha.
The FIFA president said he is not naïve at the present political scenario in the Middle East where Saudi Arabia UAE and Bahrain, along with African country Egypt, have blockaded Qatar since June 2017.
Infantino again expressed hope that football could prove to be a harbinger of peace saying “in football sometimes dream come true.
“Now, is it feasible or not, that is the question. Is it feasible to do it only in Qatar? Difficult… Is it feasible to play a few games in the neighbouring countries, Well maybe… it is an option. But of course, I am not naïve not to know not to read the news about what’s going on. But we are in football and not politics. And in football sometimes dreams come true.”
“Of course, the first partner with whom we are speaking about is the Qatar federation and the Qatari authorities,” said the FIFA chief, who was sure about one thing.
That Qatar will organise a fantastic World Cup.
All the stadiums in Qatar will mostly be ready in two years’ time, which has never happened before, not even in Europe.
Despite the blockade, the development of infrastructure to welcome the tournament, including the roads and metro stations has been going on in full speed, with Qatar determined to make it the best World Cup ever.
