FIFA is considering further changes to its World Cup, including holding a tournament every three years. Recently, FIFA scrapped its plans to make the World Cup a biennial event.
The Guardian says discussions about changes to the World Cup have been going on for months now. FIFA President Gianni Infantino clearly wants the tournament to increase in frequency. After the football world rejected his two-year proposal, he turned to the three-year idea.
World Cup potential every three years
The nations of Africa and Asia are apparently the originators of this idea. Infantino made some interesting comments on these specific areas in January. “This topic is not whether we want a World Cup every two years, but what we want to do for the future of football.” said Infantino.
“We must find ways to include the whole world to give hope to Africans so that they do not need to cross the Mediterranean to find perhaps a better life but, more likely, death at sea ” continued Infantino. “We must give opportunities, give dignity. Not out of charity but by allowing the rest of the world to participate.
French superstar rejects idea
French superstar Kylian Mbappé wasn’t exactly keen on the idea of playing the World Cup more often. “It’s a special thing because it’s every four years… If you do it every two years, it can start to feel normal to play a World Cup,” Mbappé said. “I mean it’s not normal. It’s something incredible that you can play maybe once or twice in your life.
In addition to changing the tournament schedule, FIFA also discussed changing the 2026 World Cup group stage Also. Infantino previously wanted to move to 16 groups of three teams. Nonetheless, he has thankfully revised those ideas and has now committed to sticking to normal four-team groups.
When it comes to hosting the tournament more often, it seems many fans and pundits tend to agree with Mbappé. However, success on the ground 2022 World Cup in Qatar apparently reignited Infantino’s desire to see the tournament played more often.
PHOTO: IMAGO / ULMER Pressebildagentur
