The organisers of the 2022 Qatar World Cup said on Saturday that "there will be no decision imposed" on the country to extend the tournament to 48 teams.
Anticipation is mounting ahead of the final decision, due to be
announced in Paris at the beginning of June, whether to retain a 32-team format
or expand it.
"(The) decision will be made between FIFA and Qatar," said Hassan
al-Thawadi, the secretary general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and
Legacy.
"In case a decision is made it will be due to our willingness and belief
in the benefits of the increase. If we find that there is no benefit to it, or
that the negatives are more than the positives, our decision will be to remain
on 32 teams."
Expansion could mean FIFA seeking co-hosts in the region willing to support
Qatar, a complicated proposition for Doha which is subject to an ongoing
embargo by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies.
"In case it is increased, (the feasibility study) favours expansion to
other countries," said al-Thawadi.
"We are studying (it) in all seriousness and the decision will be next
month and it will be final."
Talks between FIFA and Qatari organisers are ongoing, he added during a media
briefing in Doha.
"I will leave the period of suspense until we announce it next
month," said al-Thawadi.
Al-Thawadi said that following Thursday's opening of the al-Janoub stadium, the
first purpose-built for the tournament, "we have now six more stadiums to
go".
"By the end of this year (or) first quarter of next year we will be
launching two stadiums as well," he said.
The exact date would depend on the timing of events to launch the two venues,
he added.
"By 2021 all our stadiums will be ready," he said, adding that the
remaining stations of the recently-launched metro system would be fully
operational by 2020, linking stadiums and the airport.
"I'm very proud to say that infrastructure-wise, we are there."
On Friday training site project manager Ahmed al-Obaidly said that the 41
training sites required for a 32-team World Cup were ready and that any
increase in participants would be addressed.
FIFA recommended in March that the number of teams should be raised to 48 for
2022, ahead of the planned 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Al-Janoub, which was known as al-Wakrah stadium until the country's emir
announced the name change in a tweet ahead of the inaugural match, was the
latest milestone in Qatar's preparations.
Spectators were treated to a laser show, a military band and fireworks before
the final of the domestic Emir Cup in which al-Sadd were beaten 1-4 by
al-Duhail.
"It was a great success," said al-Thawadi. "(But) there were
definitely lessons learned in there."
The 40,000-capacity stadium was designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid
and cost an estimated $575 million.
In addition to their love for traditional sports, people in communes and towns in Lac Son district also have a special passion for volleyball - a sport that is easy to play, helping enhance collectivity and bring a lot of joy, motivation, and laughter.
On March 23rd, in Mai Chau district, 5 competition distances of Vietnam Ultra Marathon in 2024 (Vietnam Ultra Marathon 2024 - VUM 2024) organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mai Chau District’s People's Committee, Co., Ltd. Phu Thinh (Topas Travel) took place. This is the latest running race in the Topas Vietnam Trail Series and was held in Mai Chau district for the first time.
From March 21st – 23rd, the Department of Education and Training organized the Badminton - Table Tennis Tournament for students in Hoa Binh province in 2024.
The continuous sound of drums and the constant cheers of the viewers at each competition, the match have shown the appeal of the folk games. Having the opportunity to come to the festivals in Hoa Binh, visitors will be fascinated by the form of entertainment containing good traditional cultural values.
In two days, March 3rd – 4th, the Women's Union of Hoa Binh city coordinated with the Center for Culture, Sports and Information of the city to organize the 1st Women's Steam Volleyball Tournament in Hoa Binh in 2024.
Since early 2024, high-achievement sports athletes have received intensive training in preparation for provincial and national tournaments this year.
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