MARRAKECH: Most football associations in the world back increasing the size of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams from 32, with some matches to be played in neighbouring countries, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday.

Infantino told a news conference the Qataris were open to the larger format. FIFA would make a decision no later than June, once a feasibility study is over, he said.

The World Cup finals have been played with a 32-side format since 1998, and the addition of 16 extra countries has long been planned for the 2026 edition.

But Infantino has hinted in recent months that the expansion could be brought forward, and confirmed on Thursday that it may go ahead in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt launched a diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar in June 2017 that has complicated the prospect of sharing the tournament. The countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies.

“We are in football and not in politics,” insisted Infantino. “We can see what we can get.”

Infantino was speaking following a FIFA executive summit in Marrakech which brought together some 60 football associations.

“The Qataris have been very open to the idea of studying this issue,” he said, lamenting that continental champions such as Cameroon, Chile and the United States were absent from last year’s World Cup after failing to qualify.

“Most football association across the globe hope for opening up the World Cup to more teams but you have to see if it’s possible at the organisational level.

“Of course, it’s going to be difficult to organise a World Cup with 48 teams only in Qatar. The idea would be to hold some matches in neighbouring countries.”

Infantino said it was “premature” to speak of a planned joint bid from Spain, Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup, which would be the first time countries from different continents had applied to stage the tournament. “I welcome all bids. The more the better,” he said.

The Swiss-Italian also reiterated his plan to expand the Club World Cup. “We want to make it a real World Cup, with maybe 24 teams from all the continents,” he said. “The best teams are in Europe, but we need teams from around the world.”

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2019