Former Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez says FIFA should abandon
a proposal to increase the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48
from 32.
The World Cup has
been slated to feature 48 teams for the 2026 edition, to be co-hosted by the
U.S., Mexico and Canada.
But FIFA President
Gianni Infantino has also said last week that increasing the number of teams
for the 2022 tournament in Qatar was “feasible”.
The former FC
Barcelona player, Xavi said 48 teams would not be the right option for 2022.
Xavi had won the
World Cup with Spain in 2010 and is seeing out his career in Qatar with
top-flight club Al Sadd.
“It’s too much and too long. Imagine 48 teams in Qatar. It will
not be good in my opinion,” Xavi told reporters on Monday night.
“It’s still for the organisers to decide, but for now, Qatar is
doing everything to prepare for 32 teams, and it will be difficult to change it
for more teams.
“Also, it’s good
for football to have 32. That’s more than enough.”
Should FIFA and
Qatari organisers agree on a proposal to increase the number of teams, it would
be put to a vote at the FIFA Congress in Paris on June 5.
Xavi was in Mumbai
for a promotional event for Generation Amazing, a legacy programme initiated by
Qatar 2022 organisers.
He also expected
Qatari players to behave well on the field at the tournament.
The tiny Gulf state
stunned four-times champions Japan to win this year’s Asian Cup and Xavi was
not surprised by their breakthrough.
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