SPAIN LEGEND AND World Cup 2022 global ambassador Xavi believes a 48-team tournament in Qatar ‘will not be good’.
In 2017, Fifa voted to add an extra 16 teams to the 2026 competition, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Qatar tournament is currently scheduled to take place between 21 November and 18 December 2022 with 32 teams, but Fifa president Gianni Infantino is pushing to bring forward the expansion.
At a Fifa Council meeting in Miami on Monday, the governing body decided to defer the final expansion decision.
Xavi, a 2010 World Cup winner who now plays in the Qatar Stars League for Al Sadd, believes 32 teams is ‘more than enough’ for Qatar.
“It’s too much and too long,” he said.
“Imagine 48 teams in Qatar, it will not be good in my opinion.
“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.”
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That’s some half backline UCC have, intercounty standard! Maybe a bit light in the forwards with conway being the only standout name. But hopefully they will get a few more big names back from defeated clubs after this weekend.
Hope UCC win the cork championship, to highlight how crazy it is that they can compete.
@Gareth Ward: not a bad sub tipp senior mark kehoe
@Gareth Ward: “but hopefully they will get a few big names back”. Is that because they were playing with their clubs and not available tonight? Can you see how stupid your comment is when you look at it like that! UCC bring nothing to the Cork SHC. Amend the rules now so that students at the start of the season have to declare for their club or college. But can’t play with both. Let’s see how many Paddy Cadells /Paddy O’Loughlins they have then.
@Johnny B: Read my comment again and you’ll understand son. That is exactly what i mean. As i said i do hope they win it to highlight how crazy it is that they can take part.
I don’t particularly care what they add to the cork championship, which is why i want them to win!
@Gareth Ward: apologies. Twas late when I read your comment (and was after a few pints). Didn’t read it properly. Apologies again.
@Johnny B: Apparently they can get back montgomery from from waterford. And bill sheehan from dicksboro can play as well when he’s available. Assuming mark kehoe will start in the next game, they’ll have quiet a strong forward unit built up then!