2022 World Cup: FIFA Council meets in Miami (USA) recommends Qatar edition at 48 teams

The FIFA Council recommended the transition to 48 teams for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, indicated Gianni Infantino, president of the international federation, in Miami (Florida, USA) on 15/03/2019.

The XXII World Cup, to be held at the end of autumn because of the hot summer temperatures in Qatar, is scheduled from 21/11 to 18/12/2022. Initially, 32 teams were to participate, but contacts took place between FIFA and Qatar to study the possibility of applying, from 2022, the enlargement of the World Cup to 48 teams (16 groups of three, with elimination of the last 16 before the Round of 32) originally planned for 2026.

The Council's decision is yet to be ratified, potentially at the next FIFA Congress in Paris (FRA) on 05/06/2019. On this occasion, a new, additional host country would be designated to accompany Qatar in the organization of the competition, which will include 80 matches in total, compared 64 since 1998.

Two other decisions were validated by the FIFA Council in Miami:
• The enlargement of the Club World Cup to 24 teams from 2021;
• The use of video-assisted…