FIFA begins study on biannual World cup proposal
FIFA will carry out a feasibility study on holding the men and women’s World Cup every two years after backing a proposal at its annual congress on Friday.
The two competitions are held every four years but the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) put forward a proposal for a study of the impact of switching to every two years.
“We believe the future of football is at a critical juncture. The many issues that football has faced have now been further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic,” said SAFF president Yasser Al-Misehal.
“It is time to review how the global game is structured and to consider what is best for the future of our sport.
“This should include whether the current four-year cycle remains the optimum basis for how football is managed both from a competition and commercial perspective.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino called it an “eloquent and detailed proposal” with 166 national federations voting in favour and 22 voting against.
read alsoJapan name European-based squad for World Cup qualifier
Infantino said the study would look into the qualification systems for the tournaments.
Congress also backed a motion from the Jamaican federation to look into a global women’s football competition, with the general secretary of the Caribbean nation’s federation Dalton Wint suggesting the possibility of a women’s world league or women’s Club World Cup.
FIFA is to carry out study on holding World Cup every two years after backing proposal