Do you still remember Wenger who watched the match between the Chinese team and the Japanese team in the top 12 in the stands three days ago?

In fact, he came to Doha this time not just to watch the Sino-Japanese battle. As the director of FIFA World Football Development, the most important purpose of this trip is to have discussions with about 80 former professional players and coaches. The core topic is That is to change the four-year World Cup to a two-year one, in addition to reducing the number of international games.

Although Wenger said that retired superstars like Ronaldo support the World Cup restructuring, it seems that European and South American Football Confederations are not buying it. At least UEFA President Ceferin said that this is not a good idea.

　　Since the World Cup was first held in 1930, this most influential football match in the world has been held every four years. Except for the two matches suspended due to World War II, in the past nearly 100 years, This event is presented with such a rhythm and frequency.

Although the previous FIFA presidents are committed to the reform of the World Cup, no matter it is the expansion of the army or the change of the competition system, the game time has not been adjusted.

　　According to reports, the leader of the World Cup reform proposal is Wenger, the director of FIFA World Football Development. He had a two-day discussion in Doha with about 80 former players and coaches. The participants included Ronaldo, Klinsmann, Roberto Carlos, Drogba, Schmeichel, etc.

At present, the idea of ​​FIFA is to hold more top-level matches and fewer qualifiers, and the most critical change is to change the original World Cup which was held every four years to every two years.

Wenger pointed out that FIFA will give priority to reducing player travel, reducing interference with the club, and giving young players around the world "a chance to shine" by participating in more meaningful games.

Specific reforms include the establishment of a separate qualifier period in October to replace the current national team game day that has been stitched throughout the season, thereby avoiding players from taking long-distance flights to and from the competition.

　　The top international matches mentioned above will appear in June each year, and players have a mandatory 25-day holiday in July.

Wenger said: "From the current data, 20% of the players play in the national team and 80% in the club. This balance will be preserved and it will be'in a more effective way'. I think the current schedule is outdated. There is no connection with the development of modern football. We will not increase the number of matches. We may even reduce the number of matches." Wenger said that FIFA may make a decision in December and will be joined by 211 member associations next year. Was approved at the conference.

If approved, the World Cup may be moved to an odd number of years to avoid conflict with the Summer Olympics.

　　Objection

　　Europe and South America may boycott the event

　　Regarding this idea, UEFA President Ceferin warned that if the World Cup is changed to a biennial event, Europe and South America may boycott the event because FIFA has not communicated with UEFA on this.

In an interview with The Times, he said: "We can decide not to participate in the World Cup. As far as I know, the South Americans have the same idea. According to their ideas, the national team plays a one-month championship every summer. For players, this It is simply a killer. The value of the World Cup is precisely because it takes place every four years. You look forward to it and cherish it. It is like the Olympics, it is a grand event. I did not see the possibility of UEFA supporting the proposal. I hope the international The Football Federation was able to wake up. They didn’t talk to us, they didn’t come, didn’t call, I didn’t receive a letter or anything. I just saw it in the media."

　　Of course, there are still many people who hold the same opposing views as Ceferin. For example, La Liga President Tevas said that if the World Cup is changed to a biennial one, it will not only threaten the domestic league, but the current situation will further deteriorate.

Tevas said: "The biennial World Cup not only threatens the domestic league, but also the world football tradition. The schedule needs to be readjusted, which will disrupt the domestic league and endanger its continuity. This will have a cascading effect on the entire football pyramid. Make fans lose interest in the sport. New events or more frequent matches will not contribute to the development of football. On the contrary, the biennial World Cup will make our situation worse today. Those who are capable are not allowed People to build and improve."

　　The management and coaches of many Bundesliga clubs have also made it clear that this is an incredible decision.

Bayern executive Salihamidzic directly believes that this is nonsense.

Leipzig coach Marsh said that he personally did not like this proposal, and Freiburg coach Streich said that if this arrangement is true, he does not know how to play the team's game that summer.

　　Each reform will be full of controversy and uncertainties, but this century-old event is going to change, I am afraid that Wenger and the dozens of retired stars will not be able to do it.

Where is the World Cup going? The story has just begun.

This group of articles / our reporter Zhang Kunlong coordinated / Du Rui