FIFA has decided not to expand the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ to 48 teams as previously considered. The tournament will stick to its original format with 32 teams, and no formal proposal for expansion will be put forward at the next FIFA Congress scheduled for 5 June. The decision comes after careful evaluation, determining that expanding the competition for the 2022 event in Qatar is not feasible.
“In accordance with the findings of the feasibility study endorsed by the FIFA Council in its previous meeting, FIFA and Qatar collaborated to explore various options for increasing the number of participating teams from 32 to 48 by involving neighboring countries in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™,” as stated in a FIFA statement. “Following an extensive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, it was determined that, given the current circumstances, such a proposal cannot be pursued at this time.”
The plan to expand the World Cup to a 48-team tournament is still on track and set to be implemented starting from the 2026 edition, transitioning from the current 32-team format.
