The possibility to expand the 2022 FIFA World Cup and to shar the hosting rights
FIFA should if possible increase the size of the soccer World Cup in Qatar in 2022 to 48 from 32 teams, the FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
Earlier, FIFA voted to increase the size of the tournament starting from 2026 but, since then, it has been mulling the possibility of bringing the change forward to 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“It would be difficult to stage an expanded tournament with 48 teams in Qatar alone as it is a small country. We are seeing whether it would be possible for some of Qatar’s Gulf neighbors to host some of the matches. We have to see if it is possible, if it is feasible. We are discussing with our Qatari friends as well as with our many other friends in the region. If there is an opportunity to organize a tournament with 48 teams, then it will be good. If not, we will have tried. We have to decide it by this June,” Infantino said.
Surrounding the addition of 16 teams, another 2-4 stadium to those eight in Qatar would be needed. FIFA identifies three arenas in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two stadiums in Kuwait, and one in Oman and Bahrain that could be used.
Qatar, however, has been in dispute with several of Persian Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain would have to lift boycotts of Qatar before being eligible to join hosting of the World Cup games and restore diplomatic and travel ties with Doha, FIFA determined.
Two other potential co-hosts – Kuwait and Oman – are more feasible because they are not part of the boycott. FIFA feasibility study on expansion of the 2022 tournament to 48 teams informs it.
Turkmenistan starts the qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup,from the second round in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) section.
The qualification process in the Asian section will involve four rounds, where the first two will double as the qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
In the first round, the lowest ranked 12 teams as per FIFA February ranking will play the preliminary round. Each team will be drawn against one opponent to play two home and two away fixtures. 6 teams (winners on aggregate score) will progress to the second round.
In the second round, which starts on September 5, 2019, 40 national teams will take part, including the national team of Turkmenistan.
