FIFA chief Gianni Infantino claims the World Cup could be expanded to 48 teams in time for Qatar 2022.
Forty-eight nations were already pencilled in for 2026, with the US, Canada and Mexico sharing hosting duties for the tournament, but Infantino expressed ‘hope’ that the expansion could be brought forward.
“If it is possible, why not?” he said at the opening of the Asian Football Confederation’s new headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino claims the World Cup could be expanded to 48 teams in time for Qatar 2022.
Forty-eight nations were already pencilled in for 2026, with the US, Canada and Mexico sharing hosting duties for the tournament, but Infantino expressed ‘hope’ that the expansion could be brought forward.
“If it is possible, why not?” he said at the opening of the Asian Football Confederation’s new headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
“We have to see if it is possible, if it is feasible. We are discussing with our Qatari friends, we are discussing with our many other friends in the region and we hope that this can happen.
“And, if not, we will have tried. We will have tried because we always have to try to do things in a better way.”
The change would also require Qatar to share hosting duties with other countries in the region.