Puyol supports increase in number of teams

KARACHI: Former Spain and Barcelona legend Carles Puyol on Saturday gave his thumbs up for the world football governing body’s (FIFA) decision to increase World Cup teams from 32 to 48 for the 2022 World Cup which will be hosted by Qatar if a suitable co-host was found.

“It’s better for football. The more teams, the better. There is nothing negative,” the 40-year-old former Barcelona captain told a group of reporters of the Jang Group hours after his arrival in the port city.

FIFA moved a step closer on Friday to expand the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams and hopes to confirm the plans in June.

An internal feasibility study supporting the expansion, which is being strongly pushed by the FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was given full support by the FIFA council in Miami on Friday.

A final decision will be taken in Paris on June 6 after FIFA and Qatar jointly submit the names of potential co-host nations to the governing body’s Congress.

Puyol, a former Barcelona defender and a member of the 2010 World Cup winning Spain squad, is here to promote the World Soccer Stars 2019, an event under which Pakistan will host a couple of matches, involving ten global football stars, next month.

Karachi and Lahore will host one match apiece.

Puyol, who led Barcelona for ten years, is the fourth footballer star to have visited Pakistan this year. Brazilian star Ricardo Kaka, Portugal’s Luis Figo and French Nicolas Anelka were the first three.

Six other global stars are likely to visit the country, according to TouchSky Group, which is organising the World Soccer Stars 2019.

Puyol said that he was looking forward to see more places here. “I am very happy to be here. It’s my first visit to Pakistan. I have not yet spent enough time to see much. The reception has been great here. I have been served biryani which I love a lot. I hope in the next few days we can see more,” said Puyol, who interacted with the media crew through an interpreter as he answered the questions in Spanish.

Puyol, who won 20 titles for Barcelona, including six La Liga and three Champions League crowns, later in the day visited Dolmen Mall here in Clifton to interact with football fans.

Puyol will also attend the closing ceremony of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which begins at 6pm on Sunday (today) at the National Stadium before Peshawar Zalmi face Quetta Gladiators in the final. He is scheduled to depart on Sunday night.

Mainly a central defender, Puyol could also play on either flank, mostly as a right-back, and is regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation.

Puyol was also member of the Spain side when they beat Germany 1-0 to win the UEFA Euro 2008. He also launched the ticket sales for World Soccer Stars 2019.