After meeting with the emir of Kuwait and soccer officials, Infantino flew to Qatar to see Qatari leaders on Monday about the prospect of overcoming the logistical and political complexities of adding 16 more teams to the hosting, which requires at least one additional Gulf country being used.
FIFA and Qatar have until June to come up with a joint proposal, but the concept is mired in complexities stemming from the blockade of Doha by neighbors. A FIFA internal report concluded last month that the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cannot join the hosting unless they restore the economic and travel ties with Qatar that were severed two years ago.
Kuwait and Oman have remained neutral in the dispute and were identified by a FIFA task force as potential hosts. But Oman's foreign minister has said the country has no interest in staging games, leaving Kuwait as the only current viable option to cope with the Nov. 21 through Dec. 18 tournament featuring 16 additional games.
Infantino met with Kuwait's ruler, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, and the management of the Kuwait Football Association, FIFA said in a statement. The discussions were "about football in the country in general, but also about the FIFA World Cup 2022," the world governing body said.
FIFA's feasibility study into expanding the World Cup concluded last month that two stadiums in at least one additional country were required to cope with the demands of extra games. Kuwait City's Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium has 60,000 seats but Sabah Al-Salem Stadium only 26,000 and requires upgrades.
Ahead of Infantino arriving in Doha, Qatari officials held a World Cup planning meeting on Sunday chaired by the ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.