World Cup 2022: FIFA increases number of players per team to 26

PARIS: in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, FIFA will allow nations to select up to 26 increasing the maximum squad size for the November 21-December 18 tournament by three numbers.

In a statement, FIFA said, "The number of players to be included on the final list has been increased to at least 23 and a maximum of 26".

This decision was taken by the world football's governing body "given the need to retain additional flexibility due to the unique timing" of this year's competition, which will interrupt the European club season.

The "broader context of the disruptive effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on squads before and during tournaments" was also taken into consideration by FIFA.

Last year for Euro 2020 UEFA adopted similar measures to meet the demand from coaches who were worried about their players missing out on matches due to the Covid 19 pandemic,

After the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, the national teams selected a team of 23 players for the World Cup and the European Championship, AFP reported.

Before that, only 22 players were allowed on each team in international tournaments.

Last week the rules body of football IFAB approved the regular use of five substitutes for all top-level matches and said that instead of 12, teams could now include 15 substitutes on a team sheet.

"No more than 26 people (up to 15 substitutes and 11 team officials – one of these officials must be the team doctor) will be allowed to sit on the team bench" during World Cup games," FIFA said on Thursday.

Source- PTI