FIFA to announce Qatar World Cup venues decision next year.
While construction on Qatar’s World Cup venues continues unabated, the final number of stadiums required for the event remains unclear, Doha News reports.
The decision as to whether Qatar will continue with the eight stadiums it has already planned for the 2022 World Cup or add one more will be made by the middle of next year.
During a visit to Qatar last week, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “Discussions are ongoing about the number of stadiums and training sites. We will be able to come up with a common agreement by the end of Q2 2017.”
The official also touched on human rights issues that have held the international media’s attention and roused the ire of human rights movements such as Amnesty international.
She also briefly addressed the ongoing alcohol debate around the event.
While host countries are required to have a minimum of eight venues, in its initial tournament bid, Qatar planned for 12 stadiums to be constructed.
Samoura drew attention to sustainability concerns saying that the final number of stadia should take this into account post the event: “White elephants should be limited to the minimum,” she added.
While a decision was to have been made this year on the number of stadia, last week an official said it would be made “in due course.”
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