FIFA plans to help Qatar organize the 2022 World Cup (Video)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the International Football Association (FIFA) was planning to extend the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 to 48 teams.

"We are analyzing and studying the possibility of increasing the number of teams participating in the World Cup 2022 to 48 instead of 32," said Infantino at the second session of the 13th International Sports Conference of Dubai, Wednesday. "That might not happen as well as other neighboring Gulf countries Qatar has a number of tournament matches."

"We still have time to choose 48 teams for the 2022 World Cup. We will try to persuade some neighboring Gulf countries to host a number of World Cup matches, which will contribute to the communication between the teams. We will work in the framework of football and its ability to send a positive message to the world.We will be able to be the next World Cup with 32 teams. "

"There is a difference absent from the Russian World Cup such as Italy, America and Cameroon, but the quality has remained, and Asia will benefit from the decision to do so. increase the difference and will have 9 and a half seats. "

"It's time to develop the Club World Cup and give teams from around the world the opportunity to compete and compete, we're looking to increase the difference to 24 teams, and we're looking at the mechanism to apply it." . "

Nasser Al Khater, deputy secretary general of the Higher Committee for Projects and Legacy, organized the championship, pointed out that Qatar had held no discussion with other countries to participate in the organization of the final, according to "AFP".

"We had no discussion about participation," Khater said in an interview with reporters. "Nothing will be imposed on anyone," he said, adding that it was "a feasibility study and a consultation process." On the basis of the feasibility study and the talks, an agreement will be concluded. "He stressed that" there will be no unilateral decision ".

Infantino alluded to the establishment of the 2022 World Cup in several countries if the number of teams participating in the tournament in Qatar increased to 48 instead of 32. Football could be a way to create bridges between Qatar, he said. We have seen this throughout the 2026 World Cup bid process. The right to organize has been granted to three countries (the United States, Canada and Mexico), and I also think that their political and diplomatic relations are not the best, but football works miracles, as we know it. "

"If there is an open and frank discussion, if it is possible and appropriate, I am very happy, otherwise I would be happy anyway, but I would not be happy if we did not try it" , did he declare.

Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup between November 21st and December 18th, outside of the summer, to avoid the impact of heat in Qatar during this season.

The Gulf region is facing the worst crisis in its history, which began on June 5, 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt broke off their ties with Qatar and have imposed "punitive measures" on the grounds that they supported terrorism.