Sports

FIFA Considers 26-Man Squads, Five Substitutes At 2022 World Cup

FIFA is reported to be considering increasing the number of players in World Cup squads from 23 to 26 because of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

The reports suggest a decision will be taken at the FIFA Congress at the end of March.

With the first ever winter World Cup kicking off on November 21, there are apparently concerns that the pandemic may once again cause considerable uncertainty and disruption to squads.

Rosters of 26 players were allowed at last summer’s Euros while the 2021 Copa America permitted 28, so FIFA would effectively be following suit.

Teams at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon had 28-man squads.

It is also being reported that FIFA will approve five substitutes being used in matches in Qatar rather than three.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.