FIFA to talk with football leaders on biennial World Cup

ZURICH: FIFA will finally start speaking to clubs, leagues and players’ unions this month in the latest steps announced yesterday in their push to organise a World Cup every two years.

All 211 member federations have also been invited to online talks on Sept 30 as part of consulting on the future of the national team football, including a biennial World Cup.

FIFA first sought approval this month from retired players, including World Cup winners who went to Qatar for a two-day conference and commissioned surveys of fans in selected countries.

That process was criticised as flawed by FIFPRO, the global union for active players, which is now set to get a meeting with FIFA.

A “new phase of consultation” will start with organisations representing players, clubs, leagues and the six continental governing bodies, FIFA said in a statement yesterday.

European football body UEFA have warned they could boycott if the World Cup moves from its fouryear cycle, and South American counterpart Conmebol are also opposed. Their members dominate World Cups on the field but combine for fewer than one-third of the 211 federations who vote.

FIFA said that biennial World Cups will give more players and teams the chance to compete in meaningful games, improve talent globally and raise more money to fuel development programmes.

Opposition has focused on diluting the World Cup’s appeal, distorting the balance between domestic and international football and overloading players in a crowded schedule.