Fiji FA Supports Biennial W/Cup
Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf has accepted the proposed biennial World Cup
The plan was proposed by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
On Monday, FIFA held a global summit of leaders of national football federations to discuss its proposal to increase the frequency of the World Cup from every four years to two as part of a revamp calendar which would create extra revenues for the world body.
Speaking to SUNsports, Yusuf agrees with the plan.
“Fiji FA supports the proposal in principle,” he said.
“There will be opportunity for regular international matches.”
However, Yusuf indicated he does not know the percentage of funds that will be allocated to Fiji.
According to BBC Sports a biennial World Cup would generate in excess of £3.3b ($F9.33b) in additional revenue over a four-year cycle, delegates at the FIFA virtual global summit have been told on Monday.
All 211-member associations were invited to the summit as the debate over Arsene Wenger’s plan to double the frequency of the World Cup intensifies.
UEFA, Europe’s major leagues and South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL have opposed the plans.
CAF, the African governing body,
has given its backing.
Delegates were told the overall financial impact on gate receipts, media rights and sponsorship rev
enues from a World Cup every two years would result in a predicted increase from £5.3b ($F14.98b) for the 48-team tournament due to be held across three countries in 2030 to £8.6b ($F24.31b) across a fouryear cycle with two World Cups.
The meeting was told that FIFA estimate, on average, national associations would each be allocated around £12.1m ($F34.20m) in additional funds, although the precise method of distribution was not clarified.
Wenger is determined to reduce the gap in funding between the richest and poorest countries and, in turn, increase the chances of players from the poorest nations being developed to the full extent of their talent.
A report commissioned by the World Leagues Forum in November said FIFA’s proposal could cost domestic leagues and UEFA about 8bn euros (£6.8b) ($F19.22b) per season in lost TV rights and commercial agreements.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he remains confident a consensus can be reached over plans for a revised football calendar despite fierce opposition in Europe and South America.
“If I was going to a [FIFA Congress] vote tomorrow probably the majority would vote in favour of World Cups every two years,” he said.
“But we are looking at the entire calendar. We are looking at how we can make football better and we’re looking at how many we can bring on board with a new way of organising football in the future.
“We continue the dialogue, we continue the analysis; we hope that we can make progress one way or the other, or some middle way.”