Qatar, FIFA consider fewer 2022 World Cup stadiums
Qatar World Cup organizers, FIFA consider 8 stadiums vs 12 for 2022 tournament
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke speaks during a news conference after inspecting the unfinished Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, April 22, 2014. The stadium will host the World Cup opener match between Brazil and Croatia in June. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- Qatar World Cup organizers are discussing with FIFA whether to scrap plans to build four of its 12 stadiums for the 2022 tournament.
The Qataris say the decision to explore if the competition can be staged with just eight venues is because of the "size of our country."
The organizing committee will submit a proposal to FIFA by December that still ensures "a suitable legacy for the country." FIFA's executive committee will wait until March before telling Qatar how many stadiums are required.
Reducing the number of stadiums would provide fewer construction sites to be scrutinized by rights group, who have raised concerns about conditions for migrant workers in Qatar.
Brazil organizers are having difficulty getting 12 stadiums ready for the World Cup kickoff in June.
