BUENOS AIRES: FIFA was asked by South American football’s governing body yesterday to expand the World Cup to 48 teams for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who gained approval last year to increase the number of teams from 32 to 48 from the 2026 tournament, received the request from CONMEBOL to hasten the expansion while attending the confederation’s congress.
A formal letter was handed to Infantino signed by CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez and the region’s 10 member associations.
“As we do believe in big and because we want to do justice (for more teams),” Dominguez said to Infantino during the CONMEBOL meeting in Buenos Aires, “we ask that the 2022 World Cup is played with 48 teams.”
Dominguez’s Paraguay failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and this year’s edition in Russia.
qQatar currently has plans to build eight stadiums, whereas bidders for the 48-team 2026 tournament have been told they need 12 venues.
