KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Saturday hailed the re-election of Asian football chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, saying it will help the region move forward in stability. Infantino also reiterated that negotiations were ongoing with Qatar to increase the number of World Cup teams from 32 to 48 in the 2022 tournament. Sheikh Salman cemented his position by signing a new commercial rights deal in 2018, expanding tournaments and increasing the money going back to member federations. He said preparations for the 2022 World Cup were well ahead of schedule. FIFA decided in January 2017 that the World Cup will be 48 teams, but only starting in 2026 before the hosts were chosen.

Source: National Post April 06, 2019 05:10 UTC