USA: FIFA boss Infantino aiming for 48 teams at Qatar 2022

W/S Gianni Infantino walking to Press Conference table, Miami
W/S Gianni Infantino sitting down
SOT Gianni Infantino, FIFA President: “We will have as of 2021 a new real – not only a revamp – but a real Club World Cup, which will certainly have a fantastic impact on Club Football worldwide.” *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
M/S Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Gianni Infantino, FIFA President: "In the slot of the Confederations Cup – so from I think 17th of June to 4th of July, or something along these dates in 2021, in two and a half years. From now, the world will see a real Club World Cup, where the best teams in the Club will compete to crown the Club World Champion."
M/S Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Gianni Infantino, FIFA President: “A great variety of football players in the best teams – the best players who play in the best teams in Europe today, tomorrow hopefully also in other continents; we shouldn’t have just six, seven, eight or ten teams from four or five countries being able to compete at the top. We should 50 teams from 15 countries that can compete at top level, that’s how we have to think about developing football in the future. Having, I don’t know, an Egyptian player playing for Liverpool makes that 450 million Arabs are cheering for Liverpool and are proud that one of them is playing in a top competition and, potentially, can become even World Champion in the new World Cup.”
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Gianni Infantino, FIFA President: “We came to the conclusion that yes, it is feasible to move the World Cup in 2022 from 32 to 48 teams. It is feasible, provided, of course, some conditions are met.”
W/S Press Conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Gianni Infantino, FIFA President: “If it goes to 48 teams and it will be co-hosted, this means majority [of matches] of course in Qatar, and a few games in some of the neighboring countries – let’s see which countries –, then this can certainly contribute to maybe also a bit a better understanding between people, but besides of that, as one rightly say football is what really unites this part of the world. There are many football lovers in this part of the world, and, as FIFA, we have to be inclusive, and we want to be inclusive, and we want to include everyone.”
W/S Press Conference
SCRIPT
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the FIFA Council approved working with Qatar for a proposal to enlarge the tournament from 32 to 48 teams as soon as the 2022 World Cup – instead of waiting until 2026, in announcement made in Miami on Friday.
According to Infantino, if this happens, some games will also be hosted in neighbouring countries.
“We came to the conclusion that yes, it is feasible to move the World Cup in 2022 from 32 to 48 teams. It is feasible, provided, of course, some conditions are met,” said Infantino.
The FIFA President also announced a new Club World Cup, starting in 2021.
“We will have as of 2021 a new real – not only a revamp – but a real Club World Cup, which will certainly have a fantastic impact on Club Football worldwide,” he added.