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FIFA study backs 48-team '22 WC, Qatar sharing

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Update: 2019-03-12 12:51:54
FIFA study backs 48-team '22 WC, Qatar sharing Men work on the construction site of the Ras Abu Aboud stadium in Doha, Qatar. (File photo, collected)

A FIFA feasibility study concluded the 2022 World Cup can expand to 48 teams by using at least one of Qatar's neighbors as an additional host, and found there is a low legal risk to changing the format and an additional $400 million in revenue could be generated.

The report was prepared by the governing body so its FIFA Council can agree in principle on expanding the tournament at a meeting in Miami on Friday. A final decision would come in June.

The study identified stadiums in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that could be used but said Qatar would have to approve which nations it would partner with.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE severed economic, diplomatic and travel ties with Qatar in 2017, which prevents flights between the countries. The study says FIFA accepts that the ongoing political spat prevents their involvement in the tournament. The AP reported last week that FIFA was looking at Kuwait and Oman as options for games in 2022, given their neutrality in the Gulf diplomatic crisis.

With logistics already challenged by the existing plan to play 64 games in eight stadiums spread over a 30-mile radius in Qatar, FIFA said two to four additional venues are required in the region "with one or more" nation.

The study highlights that venues with at least 40,000 seats - for games up to the quarterfinals - were demanded of 2026 World Cup bidders but doesn't come to a conclusion on minimum capacities for 2022. While eight potential additional stadiums are identified in the region in the FIFA study, only two in the UAE, one in Saudi Arabia and one in Kuwait meet the 2026 requirements.

FIFA wants its council to agree to the conclusion of the report that "expanding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to 48 teams is feasible provided that neighboring countries host some games."

Source: Mail Online

BDST: 1251 HRS, MAR 12, 2019
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