FACR President Petr Fousek (left) with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Olympic Stadium in Rome before the opening match of EURO 2020 Italy – Turkey.
FACR
“When they decided to play the championship every four years a hundred years ago, FIFA had 40 members. That’s why it needs to be reconsidered now,” Infantino said during a visit to the Venezuelan capital Caracas that the world federation now consists of 211 national federations.
“And FIFA’s job is to make football global. I’m not only the chairman of FIFA, but the chairman of all 211 members. And they all have a right to dream. But the dream must have a chance to come true,” the 51-year-old official added, adding that the two-year cycle would give countries a better chance to qualify.
FIFA President Giovanni Infantino stopped by the Miraflores Palace to visit President @NicolasMaduro ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/YinOs99O4S
— Kawsachun News (@KawsachunNews) October 16, 2021
Giovanni Infantino visited Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas
Infantino, which has pushed for an increase in the number of World Cup participants from 32 to 48 teams since 2026, would like to decide on a change in the cycle by the end of the year. The African confederation CAF and the Asian AFC sided with him.
On the other hand, UEFA and the South American confederation CONMEBOL are strongly opposed. Disagreement was also expressed by fan groups and the FIFPro gaming organization. On Friday, the unions of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland opposed, according to which the change will harm football.
Moreover, the effort to change the cycle of the World Cup did not only cause resentment in football circles. FIFA President’s proposal is also disliked by the head of the International Cycling Union, David Lappartient, because he said it would harm cycling and, above all, its biggest event, the Tour de France.
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