Never a “Chance in Hell” of 48-team 2022 World Cup: Analysts

Channel NewsAsia Online

23 May 2019

There was never a “chance in hell” the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would be expanded to 48 teams because of regional rivalries, according to analysts. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies could now face pressure from their own fans to ease restrictions on travel to Qatar in force since 2017. “We’ve had weeks and months of discussions about hot air. There never was a chance in hell that the 2022 World Cup was going to be expanded,” said James Dorsey, a researcher at Singapore’s RSIS and author of “The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer”. Despite the stalemate between Qatar and the boycotting nations, Dorsey suggested the 2022 tournament could see citizens of embargoing nations demand to be allowed to attend.

Categories:

RSIS / Online