The 32-member European Leagues group - a representative body for UEFA domestic competitions - has rejected claims for a 48-team FIFA World Cup.

The current plan would add an extra 16 games and four days to the tournament, which FIFA hopes can be instated by the 2022 edition in Qatar.

Due to the Middle Eastern country's hot climate, the World Cup is already scheduled for December, forcing many UEFA competitions to completely readjust their fixtures to compensate.

UEFA Executive Committee member, and former European Leagues CEO, Lars-Christer Olsson, believes European competitions have already suffered enough. 

"We are not prepared to make any changes on the calendar for expanding the 2022 World Cup," Olsson said.

Olsson's fight may already be lost, however, with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, already securing the required support to make the change. 

European Leagues' only hope may now be delaying the move until the 2026 World Cup, the location of which is still to be decided. 

What would 48 teams look like?

FIFA's proposed allocation of qualification places for a 48-team competition would consist of increases to every confederation's spots.

Europe: 16 

Africa: 9

Asia: 8 

North / Central America / Carribean: 6

South America: 6

Oceania: 1

Host nation: 1

The remaining World Cup spot would be decided by a six-team playoff tournament (consisting of the best-placed non-qualifying teams from each confederation) to be hosted in the months leading up to the World Cup.