The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will feature 26-man squads, FIFA has confirmed. The decision was made at a meeting of the FIFA Council in Zurich on Friday, with the tournament set to take place in November and December 2022.
It means that teams will name a maximum of 26 players in their squad, with 23 of those to be named on the final squad list that will be submitted to FIFA two weeks before the tournament begins.
The move had been widely expected, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino saying earlier this week that the council would discuss the matter and that he was in favour of the change.
“I am in favour of increasing the squads to 26. I think it’s a moral decision,” Infantino said.
“It will allow the coaches to have a bit more flexibility, it will allow them to have more players available in case of injuries or suspensions.”
The decision comes as a relief to many of the world’s top clubs, who had been opposed to the idea of reducing the size of their squads for the tournament.
It is also likely to be welcomed by the players, who will now have a better chance of being included in their country’s squad for the World Cup.
The 2022 World Cup will be the first to be held in November and December, because of the extreme heat in Qatar during the summer months.
The tournament will take place for eight venues in Qatar, with the final taking place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on 18 December 2022.
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