Qatar 2022 had promised to deliver 12 stadiums for the event  as part of its successful bid to host the World Cup but the Organising Committee's senior manager for projects, Ganim Al Kuwari, claimed at a conference in Doha these plans were being revised without giving a reason why.

The minimum number of stadiums required by FIFA to stage a World Cup is eight and Qatar had promised to spend £2.4 billion ($4 billion/€2.9 billion) on building nine new stadia and refurbishing three as part of its overall £119 billion ($200 billion/€144 billion) spend on infrastructure for the tournament.

But, in a statement to the Associated Press following Al Kuwari's comments, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy claimed a possible reduction in stadiums is normal as part of the review process of host countries once they are awarded the World Cup.

"As is the case with any FIFA World Cup, once a country is chosen as host, a review of the bid plans is made with the organisers to propose the final host cities and stadia projects, which then need to be approved by the FIFA Executive Committee," said the statement.

"The requirement is a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 stadia."

Organisers have planned to use high-tech large-scale air conditioning systems to cool the stadiums in an effort to combat the searing heat expected in the Gulf State which is anticipated to be in excess of 50 degree Celsius should the World Cup go ahead in the summer of 2022.

That still remains in doubt with FIFA still considering whether to move the event to the winter to avoid the oppressive temperatures.

The possible decision to reduce the number of stadiums for the Qatar 2022 World Cup may be influenced by the row over workers rights and conditions in the Gulf State ©AFP/Getty Images



The move to scale back the number of stadiums by Qatar 2022 is likely to be linked to cost-cutting measures as infrastructure work on the airport and metro links have suffered major delays, while preparations have also been marred by allegations of the mistreatment of migrant workers working on projects relating to the World Cup.

FIFA has set up a group to monitor the conditions of workers in Qatar and say they have been assured by authorities in the Gulf State that the situation is being addressed while FIFA President Sepp Blatter is set to make another visit to Qatar later this year to ensure these assurances are being met.

Qatar was controversially awarded the 2022 World Cup in December 2010 after seeing off rival bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

But the decision has been dogged by controversy ever since with allegations that the voting system was corrupt with claims that the Qatari company controlled by former FIFA Board member and vice-President Mohamed Bin Hammam paid almost £1.2 million ($2 million/€1.5 million) to former FIFA vice-President Jack Warner's family following the vote.

Bin Hamamm was subsequently banned from football for life in 2011 after it was discovered he attempted to buy votes during his FIFA Presidential campaign while Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago and the former President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), resigned in the same year.

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