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
Earlier, PSG condemned "Patrice Evra's homophobic insults aimed at us… on social media" after a bizarre spat in which Evra used the French word "pede", a derogatory term for
Evra denies homophobia after social media spat with PSG
A memorable Premier League campaign comes to a conclusion on Sunday afternoon. Here, Football Paradise takes a look at five of the main talking points heading into the final weekend of a thrilling season.
Narrow Margins, Narrow Gap - Talking Points from Manchester
Asier Arsuaga Nacido en Tolosa en 1974. Ryan said her office recommended Remyâ s release based, in part, on a conversation prosecutors had with Martel and with
2014 « oceanwise indonesia
In November 2009, Singapore hosted Thailand at the National Stadium and lost 3-1, but won the return fixture 1-0 a few days later, earning Singapore their first victory on Thai soil in 48 years. Singapore next hosted Iran, losing 1-3, and the 1-2 defeat against Jordan which followed ended their hopes of Asian Cup football in 2011.
'Internet addiction a mental disorder'
malaysia.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/502806
Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup - straitstimes Respect PM's decision on MACC chief's post, says Mukhriz
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/news/world-briefs-teen-climate-activist-to-get-human-rights-award/
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; Football: Polish fans fined for fighting each other before Euro qualifier, team beat North Macedonia for 3rd win; Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup
West African farm bootcamp gets green entrepreneurs into shape
malaysia.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/503292
Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup - straitstimes Respect PM's decision on MACC chief's post, says Mukhriz
Man Utd's 6-1 loss to Man City is my 'worst ever day' - Sir Alex Ferguson. 24 Oct 2011; The warning signs have been there for Manchester United in home games against Chelsea, Basle and even
Atletico Madrid slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless Espanyol Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday, missing the chance to mathematically guarantee they finish second in La Liga ahead of neighbours Real Madrid.
Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless
DUBAI: FIFA says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini football player arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland. The Australian football players' union this week called on the AFC to intervene to help secure the
FIFA says in regular contact with AFC over detained Bahraini
Apr 18, 2019 · Pep Guardiola always did get a bit tetchy when people asked him about Manchester City doing the quadruple. On the bright side, he is in the clear now. Although as ever Guardiola will not be
Media Watch: Sterling and De Bruyne hailed - Manchester City FC
Premier League: Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive Everton bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League on Friday.
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a dream start as Manchester United's interim manager as his side turned on the style to thrash his former club Cardiff City 5-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Solskjaer makes dream start as Man Utd thrash Cardiff
* Man City beat Liverpool 2-1, cut lead to four points Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their lead at the top to four
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
The £3.5million Spurs paid Burnley for Kieran Trippier back in 2015 has proved to be an absolute steal. While the 28-year-old had to initially bide his time on the sidelines following his move to White Hart Lane, Trippier is now first choice for club and country.
0 comments:
Post a Comment