LONDON: A proposal to increase the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup from 32 to 48 may sound appealing to FIFA and broaden the appeal of the competition, but it would create a major headache for hosts Qatar, commentators say.
The tiny country announced last week that eight stadiums will be ready by 2019. If South America gets its way, however, and the 48-team World Cup scheduled to be introduced at the 2026 World Cup is brought forward four years, there will be four more arenas needed — and quickly.
Steve Kim, former head of competitions at the Asian Football Confederation, believes that the proposal from CONMEBOL (the South American Football Confederation) that was put forward last week is not possible for Qatar to handle alone.
“It is very difficult for Qatar to host a 48-team World Cup,” Kim told Arab News. “There are all kinds of logistical issues to address.”
Kim helped organize the 2011 Asian Cup which was held in Qatar. “Then there were 16 teams but there were issues with the traffic on match days and how Qatar could accommodate the media,” he said. “It was OK in the end but that was a very different situation. I think ideally, Qatar can handle 16 to 24 teams and while 32 is possible with all the time they have to prepare, 48 sounds very difficult indeed. There would need to be detailed assessments.”
Another issue is timing. With temperatures in the Middle East soaring in the summer months, the 2022 World Cup is due to take place in winter. European leagues may not look kindly at their domestic tournaments being delayed even longer. While Europe may have doubts, the possibility of nations such as China making it would have its attractions.
“Just to have Chinese teams in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League made a huge difference in terms of television ratings and social media interaction," Kim said. “I can’t imagine what it would mean for the World Cup, it would be huge.”
Perhaps that is one reason why FIFA is interested. The world governing body has been struggling financially, in relative terms, in recent years. They reported a loss of $369 million last year. A 48-team World Cup would be welcome in terms of attracting more revenue from broadcasters and sponsors, especially if nations such as China are able to qualify.
“It seems to me a very interesting idea,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said after meeting with CONMEBOL leaders last week. “If it’s possible, if it is feasible, if the others agree too, because it is not a decision that only the president of FIFA or CONMEBOL make ... of course we are going to study it and if it is possible, why not?”
While a major theme of Qatar’s successful bid to host the World Cup was that it would be a tournament for the whole of the Middle East, James Corbett, a long-time journalist and FIFA observer from the UK, is skeptical. “The prospect of Qatar hosting a 48-nation World Cup four years from now is as improbable as it sharing the tournament with its neighbors,” said Corbett.
According to Corbett, Infantino is delusional if he thinks an expanded tournament will help defuse tensions in the region. “Most likely this is an economic move by an organization unable to meet the electoral financial pledges made by Infantino in 2016.”
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy told Arab News that Qatar would wait and see but would need to talk to FIFA and other bodies.
“We are aware that CONMEBOL delivered a proposal to FIFA suggesting an increase in the number of teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” the spokesperson said. “Before any decision is taken it is important that discussions are held on the operations and logistics of an increase in size of the tournament in Qatar. Regardless of the outcome, we are confident in our ability to deliver a successful World Cup in 2022.”
Qatar lacks the infrastructure and would have its work cut out to host 48-team World Cup, say experts
Qatar lacks the infrastructure and would have its work cut out to host 48-team World Cup, say experts
- FIFA President Infantino is receptive to the idea of increasing the number of teams
- There were issues with the traffic and accommodating the media at 2011 Asian Cup
Mbappe double at Villarreal takes Real Madrid top of La Liga
VILA-REAL, Spain Kylian Mbappe netted twice to earn Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Villarreal on Saturday and take his side to the top of La Liga.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s team moved two points clear of arch-rivals Barcelona, who host bottom-of-the-table Real Oviedo on Sunday.
La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe reached 21 goals for the season in the competition to help Madrid see off a spirited Villarreal side, who are now fourth.
Arbeloa’s side have won three consecutive matches across all competitions and victory at Villarreal could be a vital step in the revival of their season.
After the shock Copa del Rey defeat at second-tier Albacete in Arbeloa’s first match at the helm just 10 days ago after replacing Xabi Alonso, his Madrid have started to take shape.
The coach has made clear how important his star players are and none has been more crucial this season than French superstar Mbappe, who has netted 34 times across all competitions.
Mbappe and Vinicius Junior “are the best players in the world, they are players who can really unbalance teams, we try to get the ball to them as much as possible,” Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV.
“They’re two players who... I’m really happy to have in this state of form and above all, because of the great work they are doing.
“They are really committed to the team, they are the first who are pressing... they’re giving this effort and solidarity that we need from them, so I’m very happy that their reward comes in the form of goals.”
It was a lively but imprecise start at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, as the game glowed but neither side was able to seriously threaten.
Georges Mikautadze lashed a volley narrowly wide after veteran forward Gerard Moreno found him with a floating cross.
At the other end, Madrid midfielder Arda Guler fired straight at Villarreal stopper Luiz Junior after some tidy footwork, and then shot high over the bar at the end of a swift break.
Villarreal’s Juan Foyth limped off hurt in a blow for the hosts, who created a good chance for Pape Gueye just before the break.
The Senegal midfielder, a champion at the Africa Cup of Nations last weekend, powered narrowly wide of the post.
Vinicius, who excelled in Madrid’s 6-1 Champions League rout of Monaco in midweek, also came close with a rasping effort that sailed across Luiz Junior’s goal and wide.
The 25-year-old Brazil forward went a 13th straight La Liga match without scoring, but was involved as Mbappe found the net two minutes into the second half.
- ‘Nightmare for defenses’ -
Vinicius came into the box from the left flank and his low cross was blocked but Mbappe was on hand to squeeze home his 20th league goal of the campaign from close range.
“They are a nightmare for defenses,” said Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “I hope they can keep bringing joy.”
Villarreal had the better of the second half as they worked hard to pull level, but Moreno spurned their best chance by firing inches over when well-placed.
In stoppage time, Mbappe was felled clumsily by Alfonso Pedraza in the box and the French forward cheekily dinked home the resulting penalty to seal Madrid’s victory.
Mbappe’s team-mate Brahim Diaz, who missed a similar attempted Panenka penalty for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, was on the pitch to see it as he returned to action for his club.
“For you,” Mbappe appeared to say to Diaz during the celebration, indicating it was a gesture of support.
“For me, the most important thing is that are united, we saw it last Wednesday with Vinicius’s goal and we saw it again today, with Brahim,” Arbeloa told reporters.
The Yellow Submarine are now 10 points behind leaders Madrid, having played one fewer match than Arbeloa’s side.
“We have to be a bit more accurate in attack against these kinds of teams,” admitted Villarreal midfielder Alberto Moleiro.
Elsewhere, fifth-placed Espanyol fell to a 3-2 defeat at Valencia that left them seven points behind Villarreal.
