According to the Reuters news agency, FIFA is considering allowing the coaches of the countries qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to call up 26 players instead of the 23 initially planned.
National team coaches and officials from the relevant federations will discuss the change in a meeting with FIFA on Friday ahead of the group stage draw, which will take place this Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. Doha.
The impact of Covid-19 on players and the use of five substitutes per match have led some managers to raise the possibility of allowing coaches to have three additional players for the competition which will take place this winter (21 November – December 18).
Such a measure could also be appreciated in view of the heat expected in Qatar during the competition.
UEFA allowed squads of 26 players for the Euros last year, although only 23 could be named for each game. The Conmebol, the South American football confederation, had also allowed the teams of the Copa America 2021 to summon 28 players.