FIFA President Gianni Infantino has backed a proposal to expand the next World Cup from 32 to 48 teams and has suggested that neighbouring countries could host matches. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, however, launched a diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar in June 2017. World Cup 2022 in Qatar has to be the best: Infantino“If the problem is solved I think the UAE would welcome the World Cup here, a group or two for example,” the Chairman of the UAE General Sports Authority added. The boycott has had an impact on the UAE’s ongoing hosting of the AFC’s showpiece tournament, the Asian Cup, with only small numbers of Qatari journalists and almost no fans supporting the national team. ‘Majority’ back 48-team Qatar World Cup: Infantino“One short statement: improving the level of football in Asia,” he said.

Source: The Express Tribune January 22, 2019 11:25 UTC