The Saudi Federation proposes to hold the World Cup every two years

The Saudi Football Association submitted a proposal to study the feasibility of holding the World Cup once every two years instead of four, as has been the case since the start of the competition in 1930, according to what was mentioned in the agenda of the 71st FIFA conference.

Within the agenda of the General Assembly (Congress) of 211 national federations scheduled in Zurich on Friday, Article 10 of item 1 "The Saudi Football Association proposes to conduct a feasibility study on the impact of establishing the (men) World Cup and the Women's World Cup every two years."

The former president, who is currently arrested on corruption issues, the Swiss Joseph Blatter had proposed this idea nearly two decades ago, and then repeated it in 2018 by FIFA Vice President, President of the South American Federation, Paraguayan Alejandro Domingues, who is close to the President of FIFA, the Swiss Jani Infantino. The idea was also promoted last March by French coach Arsene Wenger, who is currently responsible for developing the ball at FIFA.

Infantino pressed, with his arrival at the top of the football pyramid, to raise the number of participants in the World Cup from 32 currently, to 48 in the 2026 edition scheduled in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The next edition of the World Cup will be held in Qatar, for the first time in the Middle East, with the participation of 32 teams between November. And December 2022. As for the next Women's World Cup, it will be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. The International Federation is generating huge revenues from the Men's World Cup, the most prominent competition it organizes.

This proposal comes with the end of a season that may be the most crowded in the history of the game, due to the repercussions of the Corona virus outbreak and the late end of last season.

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news