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FIFA has abandoned the idea of making the 2022 World Cup a 48-team tournament.
The governing body of world football must hold the tournament in Qatar in November and December of the same year, a controversial decision not only for the fitness of the hosts, but also for the disruption of the club calendar.
Another point of contention was the idea of extending the tournament from 32 to 48 teams in the Gulf, allowing other countries to hold "The World's Biggest Show" with Qatar.
It would be good for the region, but the tensions are too much for planning to begin. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are currently engaged in a Qatar blockade, rich in oil, which would have meant that only Kuwait and Oman could have shared the tournament. This will not happen and Qatar, which spends around 200 billion euros for the World Cup, is not equipped to accommodate 48 teams.
The first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 had 13 teams. This moved to 16 teams from 1934 to 1982, when 24 teams were welcomed for the first time in Spain.
In 1998, FIFA extended the tournament to 32 nations, where it is today.
The Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup for the last time in 2002 and reached the most important stage only three times. Stephen Kenny will be in charge during qualifying for Qatar. Only 13 European teams will have the chance to qualify and given the difficulties encountered recently by the national team, the task will be even more difficult.
It will be much easier for boys in green to go to the 2026 World Cup. At that time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
There will be 16 groups of 3 in the opening phase in 2026, the top 2 in each group entering a playoff phase of 32.
My experience of the 2018 World Cup in Russia showed that 32 teams made up the right number, enough to present the best in the world, but also enough so that countries like Peru, Panama and Australia could qualify . The disadvantage of a 48-team World Cup would be the plethora of preparatory matches for one-sided games and a rush to a playoff system.
A 48-team World Cup will guarantee one thing for FIFA. More money.
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