FIFA discusses World Cup plans with national coaches

The World Football Federation is looking to debate controversial plans for a World Cup every two years with national men’s teams’ coaches this week.

ZURICH – Online video conferences are scheduled for October 19 and 21, FIFA announced on Monday. Reform of the international calendar is currently the subject of controversial discussions, with European football federation UEFA and continental association CONMEBOL rejecting shortening the World Cup cycle from four to two years. The International Olympic Committee had recently criticized the plans and expressed “concern”.

“As a coach of the men’s national teams, your input is essential,” said FIFA’s head of global football development Arsene Wenger about the planned consultation. “Opportunities for us to come together are few, but we must embrace these opportunities because this kind of dialogue helps us all to protect football’s unique place in the world and make it truly global.”

A FIFA Technical Advisory Group, chaired by Director Wenger, proposed hosting the World Cup every two years, and shortened the pace to continental tournaments such as the European Championship. As a result, the change should eventually take effect with 48 countries in the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first time since the 2026 World Cup. The federations’ tournaments will then be held in 2027. In the already planned EM year 2028, the next World Cup was due to take place again. DPA