FIFA is considering further changes to its World Cup, including hosting a tournament every three years. FIFA recently halted plans to make the World Cup a biennial event.
The Guardian claims that talks about changes to the World Cup have been ongoing for months. FIFA President Gianni Infantino clearly wants the tournament to increase in frequency. After the soccer world rejected his two-year proposal, he switched to the three-year idea.
World Cup potential every three years
Apparently, the nations of Africa and Asia are behind this idea. Infantino made interesting comments on these specific areas in January. “This issue is not about whether we want a World Cup every two years, but what we want to do for the future of football,” Infantino said.
“We need to find ways to include the whole world to give Africans hope so they don’t have to cross the Mediterranean to find perhaps a better life but more likely death at sea,” Infantino continued. “We need to give opportunities, give dignity. Not out of charity but allowing the rest of the world to participate.”
The French superstar rejects the idea
France superstar Kylian Mbappé was not too keen on the idea of playing the World Cup more often. “It’s something special because it’s every four years… If you have it every two years it can start to be normal to play a World Cup,” said Mbappé. “I mean it’s not normal. It’s an amazing thing that you can play maybe once or twice in your life.”
In addition to changing the tournament schedule, FIFA has also discussed changing the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Infantino had previously wanted to move to 16 three-team groups. However, he has thankfully revised these ideas and has now committed to sticking to the normal four-team groups.
As for holding the tournament more often, it seems that many fans and pundits tend to agree with Mbappé. However, the on-field success of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has apparently resurrected Infantino’s wishes for the tournament to be held more frequently.
PHOTO: IMAGO / ULMER Pressebildagentur
