FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists holding World Cup every two years was NEVER their idea

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has rowed back further on his plans for a World Cup every two years, insisting that the world governing body never actually put forward the idea.

The proposal for a biennial World Cup has split football, with the European governing body, UEFA, and the South American confederation, CONEMBOL, declaring they would boycott the competition if it went ahead.

A two-year cycle was put forward at the last FIFA Congress, a year ago, by the president of the Saudi Arabia football federation Yasser Al Misehal, who suggested it was crucial for the global development of the game.

Gianni Infantino has stepped back from propposals for a biennial World Cup

And on Thursday, speaking to this year’s congress, which brings together 211 federations from around the world, Infantino took the opportunity to step back.

‘Let me be very clear FIFA has not proposed a biennial World Cup,’ he began. ‘Let’s get the process clear here, the last FIFA congress asked the FIFA administration with a vote with 88% voted in favour … to study the feasibility of a World Cup every two years.

‘The FIFA administration… did exactly that. We started the feasibility, but FIFA did not propose anything. FIFA came to the conclusion that it is feasible, but it would have some repercussions and impacts.’

Speaking at a meeting of the FIFA Congress, he said the proposal was not made by FIFA

Infantino was right about that and the dissenting voices have grown stronger throughout the year. The central issue is the pressure additional World Cups would place on the international match calendar, in the male and female game, which is already considered to be too busy for European and South American players.

In addition, there is an argument that says making the blue riband competition two-yearly would devalue it, with an official broadcast partner of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the beIN Media Group, claiming the move would undermine FIFA’s most prized asset.

FIFA believes the plan will accelerate development in football worldwide, close the gap on the European clubs and national teams that dominate competitions, and add billions of dollars in revenue it can share among national federations.

However, opposition has caused momentum to stall. Infantino pulled plans for an expected vote on the issue in December. It was also conspicuously missing from the agenda for the FIFA Council meeting held in Qatar on Wednesday.

Last year, FIFA Congress approved proposal to look at feasibility of a biennial World Cup

Even so, Infantino declined to kill it off completely. He said the next phase is one of ‘consultation and discussion’ to try to find ‘agreements and compromises’.

‘In addition to confederations and associations, I am looking at the leagues, the clubs and the players as well…’ in an attempt to reach beyond his opponents at UEFA. ‘We try and will try to have a debate and discussion to find out what is most suitable to everyone because everyone has to benefit.’

Infantino said he accepted the big confederations, which would include UEFA and the South American body, CONEMBOL, need to grow, but also smaller bodies, which would include Africa’s CAF, have to benefit, too.

However, what underlies this debate is a power struggle between FIFA and the largest confederations, particularly, UEFA.

FIFA’s revenues are mostly reliant on a World Cup held every four years, but UEFA makes huge amounts of money annually from the Champions League, with further contributions from the Europa League and the recent arrival, the Europa Conference League.

Infantino told the Congress want international footballis what makes the game ‘live’ worldwide

This week, it was estimated an expanded Champions League will drive almost 40 per cent growth in revenues for European club competitions, taking the total income to £12.7 billion for the next cycle from 2024-27.

Therefore, it was notable that while stepping back from the biennial World Cup plan, Infantino tried to put UEFA back in its box.

‘What is important in this discussion is that we put back on the agenda national team football, which is what makes football live all over the world and we have to do this in balance with the clubs, which is the biggest part of the way players are playing and there are ways to find compromises and agreements…’ said Infantino.

‘What is important is respect of football institutions respect of the football pyramid,’ he added. ‘With FIFA at the top. 

‘With conf member associations, the clubs the leagues and players. It is paramount that we protect this organisational model of football from all possible challenges.’

Broadcast partner beIN Sports have voiced their concerns over FIFA’s plans for the World Cup