Is the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino mad or brilliant? His dream is to get the extended WORLD cup in Qatar in 2022 from 32 to 48 teams.
it sounds like an impossible task, but when FIFA’s board, the so-called counsil, meet Friday in Miami, members are presented with a 81 pages long report, which tells, that it can be done. But then Qatar share værtsskabet with one or more of the neighbouring countries.
the Extra Leaf is familiar with the contents of the report. Here it is immediately established that the lilleputlandet Qatar impossible even can grapple the finals, with 48 teams. Such finals, will require at least 12 stadiums, and Qatar will in 2022 only have eight approved WORLD cup arenas.
Why has FIFA seen on the possibility to other countries in the region will share in the finals. FIFA have narrowed the field to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman.
Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have stadiums that can accommodate the 40,000 spectators as required to to be able to be host. But the two countries have, along with Bahrain for several years boycotted the Qatar, and they do still everything to harm Qatar’s most possible economic and political.
There is nothing that speaks for that Qatar will share WORLD cup with just the three countries.
the Article continues under the picture…
Qatar consumes more than 1000 billion to make the country ready for the WORLD cup. Among other things, to be built eight stadiums. Photo. Lars Poulsen.
Back in Kuwait and Oman. Kuwaiterne, which has been tried as a mediator in the conflict between Qatar and three neighbouring countries, have a stadium that meets FIFA’s requirements. Oman has a stadium that can be expanded to be able to meet the requirement of at least 40,000 spectators.
But in Kuwait, there are big challenges with human rights and, incidentally, there are total alkoholforbud, which harmonizes poorly with the thirsty football fans from all over the world. In Oman, the rules are more lenient, but here is the economy is not immediately to be able to cope with such a large event, as only a small proportion in a WORLD cup finals, will be.
IN FIFA’s report emphasises repeatedly that expansion to 48 teams can only do that if Qatar agrees to it. So far qatarerne not related directly to the question. They have allowed FIFA to assess the situation.
But it is difficult to see what the Qatar – which has spent more than 1000 billion to make the country ready for the WORLD cup – should get out of to share værtsskabet.
FIFA’s board of directors may not at Friday’s meeting to make a final decision. As mentioned above, Qatar first give her consent, and it is not happening this week.
But the board can decide if it is worth it to proceed with plans for an extension, as the case may be put to the vote at FIFA’s congress in the beginning of June in Paris. If, therefore, Qatar for the time have said yes to share værtsskabet.
48 hold the trigger several billions
It may well be that Qatar does not even get anything out of an extended WORLD cup with 48 teams. But it makes FIFA and the rest of the 210 member countries, where appropriate.
IN FIFA’s report on a possible expanded WORLD cup, it appears that the increased tv revenues, ticket revenues and other commercial income will increase the expected profits of the WORLD cup in 2022 with more than 400 million u.s. dollars.
This is equivalent to 2.6 billion crowns, and in consequence the report is the money that will come to the global verge of being good.
Africa and Asia are the winners
If the WORLD cup in 2022 is being expanded to 48 teams are the seats distributed in the following way:
UEFA – Europe goes from 13 to 16 teams.
CAF – Africa goes from 5 to 9 teams.
the AFC – Asia goes from 4 to 8 teams.
Concacaf – North and central America goes from 3 to 6 teams.
Conmebol – south America goes from 4 to 6 teams.
OFC – Oceania goes from 0 to 1 hold.
It provides 46 teams. The last two seats available in a playoffturnering between countries from confederations outside of Europe.
Here is the band schedule
because of the heat in Qatar is WORLD cup in 2022 moved to november-december. There is a set 28 days, of to to the a finals with 32 teams.
Gets the tournament expanded to 48 teams, should continue to be settled on 28 days. But the tournament structure will be changed in relation to the WORLD cup in Russia last year.
A tournament with 48 will mean 16 pools, each with three teams. The two best teams from each pool will proceed to the 1/16 finals.
