FIFA confirm 2022 World Cup in Qatar will have 32 teams after abandoning plans to expand to 48 FIFA have scrapped a proposal to expand the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams They have been exploring the possibility of using one more host nation But logistical and political complexities proved too much to overcome By Rob Harris, Associated Press Published: 20:30 BST, 22 May 2019 | Updated: 20:39 BST, 22 May 2019 Viewcomments The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will have 32 teams, with FIFA scrapping a proposal to expand the tournament to 48 nations. FIFA had been exploring if logistical and political complexities could be overcome to expand the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, which would have required at least one more country being used in the Persian Gulf to accommodate an additional 16 matches in the region. A FIFA internal report in March concluded that the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cannot join as co-hosts unless they restore the economic and travel ties with Qatar that were severed two years ago. FIFA concluded that it lacked to the time to prepare a country to host the extra games. The regional diplomatic crisis left neutral Kuwait and Oman as the viable options. Oman has said it isn't keen on hosting games at the FIFA showpiece. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will have 32 teams, with FIFA scrapping a proposal to expand it Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility