FIFA have abandoned plans to make the 2022 World Cup in Qatar a 48-team tournament.
President Gianni Infantino was poised to bump the entrants up from the current total of 32 but expansion plans for the showpiece event have been shelved.
It will remain the same in three years' time but the tournament numbers will increase to 48 for the 2026 edition in America, Mexico and Canada.
The Swiss supremo has been forced to alter his plans after admitting defeat over extending the number of nations competing due to time constraints.
And it's a blow for Scotland with fewer places now available to European teams than originally thought due to the decision from the governing body.
Talks about adding another Gulf nation to host the tournament alongside Qatar have also been scrapped by FIFA.
The tournament will start on 21 November and will the Final will take place on December 18, which is also a Qatar National Day.
