Qatar 2022: "The requirement is a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 stadiums" (LOC)

"This is the same process that all FIFA World Cup host nations undergo. For Qatar, the process of selecting the final proposed lineup of host venues is ongoing. The requirement is a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 stadiums," announced the LOC (Local Organising Committee) of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in an email sent to The Associated Press on 22/04/2014.

This precision by the LOC comes after announcements by several media outlets that Qatar had decided to reduce the number of stadiums used for the 2022 World Cup to eight, despite the fact that the initial plan had been for 12. This information was revealed by Ghanim Al Kuwari, director of projects for the LOC, at a conference in Doha (Qatar) on 20/04/2014.

Jérôme Valcke, general secretary of FIFA, had previously said that he did "not see the point of having 12 stadiums" and that he expected between "eight and 10" to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on 06/05/2013.

• The minimum number of stadiums required by FIFA to host the 2014 World Cup was set at 8.
• The organising committee of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar chose the Dutch…