Associated Press Journalist Rob Harris joins Joe Molloy on The Football Show on Wednesday to discuss the biennial World Cup.
Arsene Wenger is FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development. In recent weeks, he has pushed the idea of having a World Cup every two years instead of four.
The former Arsenal manager led the research team into the idea and since then has laid out his plan for a biennial World Cup. Rob Harris joined The Football Show to break down exactly what this means for world football.
"Arsene Wenger wants a World Cup every two years for men," he said.
"What's very clear at that point is they hadn't even factored in the impact on the women's game or even a women's World Cup every two years as well...we've had opposition from UEFA, the European Club Association, the European Leagues Organization all about the detrimental impact on the game."
This new structure would change international windows. There would likely only be two in a given year. One for a tournament. And one where you'd play the other fixtures for the national teams.
"There is some unease particularly around the likes of UEFA about their belief that they've not even been properly consulted on this. FIFA are trying to push through plans that would overhaul football, and you've got Conmebol of South America also opposed to these plans.
"Intriguingly, they themselves proposed this in 2018...since then they've moved away from it as they got closer aligned to UEFA."
Wenger believes that FIFA could have this set up by the 2028 World Cup and they will vote on the plan at their congress next May. Harris notes that the decision could come even sooner if FIFA decides to hold a meeting in December, that would accelerate the process and put pressure on UEFA to stand their ground.
UEFA have said that they will boycott the new World Cup plan but individual countries within UEFA have said the choice lies with them.
Getting every country on the same page will be difficult. But even if they do that, it's not the end. The past suggests that UEFA won't follow through on any threats against FIFA.
"We have gone through some of this before. In 2019 in particular, UEFA were opposing the Club World Cup expansion plans by FIFA, then they went and accepted them on the basis of eight rather than 12 European teams. They had been making all sorts of threats against FIFA on this.
"There is precedent for the bark being pretty loud from UEFA. Then in reality they aren't quite as tough.
"FIFA could seemingly get this through from a vote of its membership because there is widespread support."
A biennial World Cup may be more likely than you thought. It would completely change the nature of football. International teams would suffer. Club teams would likely suffer too as players would get very few breaks.
Igniting a greater interest in the international game is the counter-argument for the biennial World Cup.
Ireland have "huge determination" to get elusive win | Stephen Kenny.
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