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AFP
Doha
A final decision on the number of stadiums to be used at the Qatar 2022 World Cup finals will not be made this year, according to FIFA.
An official told AFP that the long-awaited announcement would instead be made in"due course" though not before the end of December, as had been previously expected.
"The final number of stadiums to be used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is part of the overall ongoing infrastructure discussion and a decision will be taken in due course," said the official. Originally, a final decision on venue numbers ” largely predicted to be eight, though the initial bid allowed for up to 12 ” was expected to be taken by the end of 2015.
When that deadline passed it was expected the number would finally be announced this year. FIFA though is thought to be still assessing several issues.
Qatar's tournament is more compact.
If eight stadiums are used it will mean the 2022 finals will have the smallest number of venues at any tournament since Argentina in 1978. In Qatar, 32 teams will take part.
