It is difficult to judge reason behind UAE’s offer to co-host World Cup, says official

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is expected to showcase Arab pride and act as one for the entire Middle East region.

Recently, there have been talks of expanding the 32-team tournament into a 48-side showpiece, with FIFA suggesting more countries could share organisation duties. However, Qatar is keen to go ahead as the tournament’s single organiser.

Last month, the country’s General Sports Authority Chairman Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi had said that they were ‘more than happy to help Qatar co-host the tournament.’

On February 26, Al Romaithi said his country, Kuwait and Oman could stage some of the World Cup matches if Qatar were required to hold an expanded event.

Responding to the UAE’s offer to help, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson HE Lulwah Rashid Al Khater said it was difficult to judge the intention behind the move given the current geopolitical situation.

“Qatar has been saying from the start that the 2022 FIFA World Cup is for the whole region of the Middle East and the Arab world and it remains Doha’s desire that this should be seen as such,” Al Khater was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.

“Due to the difficult diplomatic situation, it’s hard to imagine the World Cup being co-hosted with the UAE,” she added.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that the international football association is studying the possibility of extending the World Cup format to include 48 teams.

Qatar has said it will not decide on expanding the tournament until it sees the details of a feasibility study from FIFA.

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Cover Image Credit: Qatar Tribune