FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues to work on his plan to host a 48-team World Cup in just four years. The Swiss newspaper, which has come under pressure from publications in the wake of the Football Leaks reporting by the SPIEGEL and the journalistic network EIC, hopes that if it increases, it will have positive effects for the region.
"Maybe football is a way to build bridges," said Infantino the British "Guardian". "We also saw it in the bid for 2026: the right to organize the World Cup was awarded to three countries (USA, Canada and Mexico), which I do not think have the best political and diplomatic ties," said Infantino. "But football does wonders, as we know."
A World Cup with 48 instead of 32 teams, as previously planned, would be unthinkable for Qatar with the planned eight stadiums and in the period from 21 November to 18 December 2022 alone. The emirate would then have to work with other states. Saudi Arabia, one of the states Qatari is currently politically isolated, has been talking about for some time now.
"Obviously, the relationship with neighboring countries is a factor that complicates the situation," said Infantino. "On the other hand, even if diplomatic relations are difficult: when it comes to football, people talk to each other."
The 48-year-old Infantino is in the criticism because he wanted to enforce without specific information, an alleged $ 25-billion offer for the launch of a club World Cup and a global Nations League. However, numerous Fifa rights are to be sold, which would undermine the World Association. Infantino failed so far with his plans in the Fifa Council because he did not want to give any information on the origin of the money. However, it should come to a not insignificant part from Saudi Arabia. The land that brings Infantino into play for the 2022 World Cup.