Football: the players' union worries about a World Cup every two years

While Fifa more than seriously studies the organization of a World Cup every two years (President Gianni Infantino has even promised "decisions by the end of this year") and causes controversy on the football planet , FIFPRO, the main union of professional players, is worried about changes to the international calendar.

In a statement, the body explains that the changes must "respond to the concerns of the players, which are for example the increase in the workload at high level, the need to protect and improve the jobs of the majority of our members around the world and protecting the promising development of professional women's football.

"FIFPro considers" proposals for further enlargements such as a biennial World Cup inappropriate in the absence of solutions to existing problems.

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Official press release |

FIFPRO calls for proper negotiations on International Match Calendar reforms ⤵️

➡️ https://t.co/s0NpgnMBxz pic.twitter.com/dadyyYv1vb

- FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) September 14, 2021

The body especially regrets seeing Fifa operate unilaterally.

"The additions to the schedule are debated in public without in-depth impact assessments, without transparent information and, most importantly, without a commitment to agree improvements for the game in good faith between all stakeholders," continues the union, whose representatives will soon meet with Fifa to discuss its wishes for reform.

The Asian Confederation and Concacaf (North and Central America) are in favor of considering the organization of a World Cup every two years.

UEFA, via its president Aleksander Ceferin, has made it known that it is against it, as has Conmebol, the South American Confederation.

The idea of ​​a biennial World Cup is pushed by Arsène Wenger, director of development at Fifa, who advocates a selection competition each year, alternating World and Euro, for example, for the European Confederation.

UEFA opposed it, assuring that it would “dilute” the “jewel” of world football, according to its president Aleksander Ceferin.

The World Association of Professional Leagues (WLF) also criticized in a statement a project which "would damage the economy of football and the health of the players".