Analysts: Tripartite organization of Qatar World Cup will have disastrous consequences for the Gulf

Threat of the recommendation of FIFA to increase the number of teams participating in the World Cup in Qatar from 2022 to 48, which will require it to increase the number of host countries, as that diplomatic tension is increasing in the Gulf region, analysts say.

According to reports, Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, plans to welcome Kuwait and Oman among the first matches of the World Cup in the Middle East and North Africa, which will help improve relations in the region. region.

Analysts believe, however, that this decision could defeat the purpose: deepen the regional division and expose Kuwait and Oman, as well as Qatar, to increased pressure from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have broken ties with Doha since early June 2017.

"There is a very real risk of extending the World Cup to Kuwait and Oman, which could make both countries vulnerable to the same regional pressure as Qatar since 2017," said Christian Olrichson, a researcher at Rice University. "Kuwait and Oman have adopted a special approach in regional relations".

"The idea of ​​a regional tournament involving Kuwait and Oman without Saudi Arabia and the UAE is likely to cause great bitterness in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi," he said.

"There are problems with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," said Andreas Craig, defense researcher at Kings College in London, who previously served as adviser to the Qatari government. .

"The Gulf conflict will be exacerbated by the organization of the World Cup in three countries," said Craig, adding that FIFA's bid to host the Qatar World Cup with Kuwait and Oman would reinforce the feeling of dividing the Gulf into two opposing blocks, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

"Politically, the extension of the World Cup does not make sense."

Last week, FIFA recommended that FIFA increase the number of teams taking part in the Miami 2022 World Cup to 32.

But the final decision will be taken at the FIFA meeting in Paris next June, after the bloc and Qatar have drawn up a list of potential host countries.

FIFA confirmed on more than one occasion that the increase in the number of teams could not take place without the consent of the host country (Qatar).

Source: AFP