Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to the Middle East country Qatar was a "mistake".

Sepp Blatter, 86, was president of world football's governing body when Qatar was awarded the tournament in 2010, reports BBC.   

He said, "It is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for it."

The Qatar World Cup, the first to be hosted in the Middle East in the tournament's 92-year-history.

FIFA's executive committee voted 14-8 for Qatar to host the tournament ahead of the United States 12 years ago, at the same time Russia was awarded the 2018 event.

The former FIFA President said he voted for the United States and blamed then-UEFA President Michel Platini for swinging the vote in Qatar's favour.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul