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
Watch highlights as League One AFC Wimbledon pull off a stunning FA Cup shock by beating West Ham to reach the fifth round. MATCH REPORT: AFC Wimbledon 4-2 West Ham United Available to UK users only.
Football: Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria Ada Hegerberg was not needed as Norway kicked off their women's World Cup Group A campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Nigeria on
Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria - Football
Apr 17, 2019 · Edwin van der Sar is the ideal architect for Manchester United's rebuilding project with United facing a huge rebuilding job and one of their most important summers for years,
Solskjaer to begin much-needed rebuilding job at United | FOX
MANCHESTER (AFP) - Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said he could not understand what happened after Manchester City crushed his side 6-0 on Sunday (Feb 10) - their biggest ever defeat in the Premier
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City
Football: Arsenal's Lacazette free to face Rennes as Uefa cuts ban LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette is eligible to play in Thursday's Europa League last 16 second-leg clash against Rennes after his three-match ban was reduced to two games, Uefa said on Tuesday (March 12).
Football news - Alexandre Lacazette free to face Rennes as
Handsome payouts for Mourinho - three sacks full, Football
Zinedine Zidane's second spell as coach of Real Madrid got underway as the Frenchman took his first session at the club's training ground. Zidane leads first session since return to Real Madrid.
* Everton rode their luck for a 2-0 home win over Bournemouth * Kurt Zouma broke the deadlock with a 61st minute header * Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the win in stoppage time
Soccer-Everton ride luck for 2-0 victory at home to
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud said he has been approached by other clubs to play for them next season but wants to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge if manager Maurizio Sarri can offer regular
Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next season
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa's sportsmanlike decision to allow Aston Villa to score unopposed in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds has been hailed by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Marcelo Bielsa Wenger said that the incident was more remarkable given that promotion to the Premier League was at stake for the Championship club.
CORRECTED-Soccer-Wenger hails Leeds' Bielsa for sportsmanship
We are disappointed but we just have to focus on helping the team do as well as possible in the league now." Football: 'Brilliant' Reds have belief 0:0 Comments
Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool can overturn 3-0 deficit to
MADRID (AFP) - Sergio Ramos scored twice to put Real Madrid on the brink of the Copa del Rey semi-finals as they came from behind to beat Girona 4-2 in a thrilling first leg on Thursday (Jan 24)..
Copa del Rey: Sergio Ramos' double puts Real Madrid within
Gianluigi Buffon is Chief Executive Officer at Buffon & Co. SRL. View Gianluigi Buffon's professional profile on Buffon calls on PSG to show 'spirit of sacrifice'
PSG star Gianluigi Buffon warns team-mates ahead of
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming australia
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming free online
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch hd soccer live streaming free
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch premier league live streaming video
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming india
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer aid live stream
watch soccer live stream app
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch champions league soccer live streaming
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch us soccer live stream
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch english premier league live streaming
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer live - live football streaming
free watch soccer live streaming
free watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch soccer game live espn
watch soccer game live now
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch usa soccer live stream
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer games live stream free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch premier league games live stream
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming now
#satira #calciatoribrutti #serieatim #conference #zidane #firmino #england #coutinho #bundesliga #commento #arsenal #juventus #MSport #coyg #acmilan #433skills #kroenkeout #nikesoccer #footballschedule #sunderlandafc #lfc #championsleague #frasitrap #paulmcartney #neymar #cristianoronaldo #thebeatles #mancity #elcasico #zinedinezidane #commentimemorabili #liverpoolfc #romania #footballstreaming #sumbertv #americanfootball #PartyTime #salah #footballmemes #knuckleball #nutmeg #manchestercity #Liverpool #ignoranza #Liamgallagher #crossfit #livestreams #BMW #coffeebreak #GarageCafeDxb #kickoff #streamingbolaid #adidasslipon #hoffenhiem #championship #football #bayervshoffenheim #afcnews #champion #liverpoolfans #livesports #manchestercity #winner #cristiano #premierleague #girlsniteout #bayern #leomessi #footballmeme #ronaldo #oasisofficial #alissonbecker #portsmouthfc #visubal #lionelmessi #league2
0 comments:
Post a Comment