The FIFA World Cup is coming to Qatar this year, and it will look a little bit different than we used to. In addition to taking place in late fall, this soccer tournament will now allow teams to bring 26-man squads on board in an attempt to combat the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the first World Cup to take place in post-Covid times, and the organizers are doing everything in their power to minimize its impact on the event. One of the major changes includes increasing the number of players included on the final list to 26.
FIFA also notes that no more than 26 people will be allowed to sit on the team bench, including 15 substitutes and 11 team officials, including the team doctor. The maximum number of players on the release list has also been increased from 35 to 55.
In their official statement regarding this decision, FIFA explains that they wanted to “retain additional flexibility due to the unique timing of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in the global calendar, as well as the broader context of the disruptive effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on squads before and during tournaments.”
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place from November 21 to December 18 in Qatar.
