Staging World Cups every two years, as well as continental championships in the intervening years, would ensure a fixed, annual slot in the football calendar for the international game to dominate the agenda. WHY IS THERE EVEN A PLAN TO HAVE BIENNIAL WORLD CUPS?įIFA president Gianni Infantino wants bigger World Cups - the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the first 48-nation tournament - and he also wants the international game to reclaim some of the financial power, commercial impact and status of the club game. How 2022 World Cup qualifying works around the world World Cup qualifiers on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games, replays (U.S) So what does it all mean, and what are the pros and cons of Wenger's blueprint for the international game? It would mean more major tournaments but fewer international breaks, more opportunities for nations to stage World Cups, and clubs suffering less disruption from international fixtures. But, speaking in L'Equipe at the weekend, Wenger spelled out the thinking behind the proposal to not only increase the regularity of World Cups, but also re-draw the international calendar in a way that suits all elements of the game. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin voiced his opposition last week, while the major leagues have yet to be canvassed and convinced. The study is being led by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (now FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development) and 166 of FIFA's 210 national associations have given their backing to the research into the idea.
FIFA 10 WORLD CUP GAME UPGRADE
You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĪ World Cup every two years? The pros and cons of FIFA chief Arsene Wenger's blueprintĬan you imagine a world where there is a major international tournament held every year? The idea is closer to becoming a reality than you might think.įollowing a proposal by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in May, FIFA is now carrying out a feasibility study into the practicalities of altering the World Cup cycle from four years to two, meaning that continental championships (like the Gold Cup, European Championship and Copa America) would be sandwiched in the alternate years.