FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Friday that there would be 48 teams for the group stages of World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The teams will increase from 32 to 48 for the competition and were set to be divided into 16 groups of three, with the top two progressing to the last 32. “We have to revisit or re-discuss the format,” said Infantino. The group stages in Qatar included some exciting final games as countries tried to secure a top-two place to qualify for the last 16. The four-team group format, with the top two going through to the knockout stages, has been used since the men’s World Cup expanded to 32 teams in 1998.
With the third-place play-off and final to go, he said 3.27 million spectators had attended the games compared with an overall 3.3 million at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. “Thanks to everyone involved, Qatar, all the volunteers to make this the best World Cup ever,” said Infantino. “Matches have been played without incidents. It has been a very joyful atmosphere. “There is something happening when we talk about football becoming truly global, with an African team [Morocco] reaching the semi-final for the first time. “We also had a woman [Stephanie Frappart] referee a match for the first time. “It has been an incredible success, approaching five billion in terms of viewing figures. The fans meeting the Arab world, it has been very important for the future of all of us.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Doha on November 19, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. - Infantino hit back at Western critics of Qatar's human rights record at his opening press conference of the World Cup on November 19, blasting their "hypocrisy". (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)