Qatar Continues Preparing For Hosting 32-Team World Cup In 2022 - Preparatory Committee

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published March 16, 2019 | 02:05 AM

DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th March, 2019) Qatar will continue to prepare for hosting a 32-team World Cup in 2022 until it and FIFA make a final decision, a Qatari preparatory committee said in a statement.

The statement comes after a meeting of the FIFA Council in Miami earlier in the day. According to FIFA the council agreed expanding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 from 32 to 48 teams was "feasible," provided that "neighboring countries hosted some matches," with Qatar as the main host country.

"We will work with FIFA to determine whether or not a viable operating model does exist and importantly, whether it is in the best interests for football and for the tournament, and for Qatar as the host nation .

.. Until we reach that conclusion, we will continue to work toward hosting a 32-team World Cup in 2022 hosted in the State of Qatar," the statement read.

According to the statement, the final decision on the number of teams will be made by Qatar and FIFA.

The FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022. In January 2017, the FIFA Council decided to expand FIFA World Cup to a 48-team competition starting from the 2026 edition.