Qatar World Cup 2022: FIFA drops their plans to have 48 teams
23 May 2019
FIFA has abandoned their plans to increase the number of teams at 2022 World Cup in Qatar from 32 to 48, mentioning that the change would have required Qatar to share hosting duties with other countries in the region.
The tournament in Qatar remains in the current 32-team format, because of the political and logistical complexities of using another Gulf nation.
The World Cup will not be expanded until 2026, with FIFA already having approved a format with 48 teams for that tournament to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.