FIFA President Gianni Infantino "laid out his vision for an expanded 48-team World Cup" in '22 with some of the matches played in countries neighboring Qatar and the 80 games "squeezed into 28 days," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. Infantino said that he would be "very happy" if the proposal for an expanded tournament happens. He added that "many group matches could be played simultaneously to fit them in to the already shortened 2022 timeframe" of Nov. 21-Dec. 18. Infantino admitted it would "be a challenge" to make a 48-team World Cup happen in '22, but said that it was "worth trying." A "final decision will be taken in March with qualifying draws to take place in the summer." Infantino said, "It will be very, very difficult to do this only in Qatar with 48 teams. I would personally be very happy if some games were shared with some countries in the region, and in light of the current circumstances in the region we all know about, I would be even happier if this could happen and football can build bridges" (LONDON TIMES, 11/7). The AP's Graham Dunbar reported European leagues, which are "already set to lose peak weeks from their season," insisted FIFA "cannot have any more days" from their Nov. '22 schedule. Infantino said that "we cannot make (the tournament) longer." He added that playing more games simultaneously "is not ideal" (AP, 11/7).
