Biennial World Cup: FIFA aims for $ 4.4 billion more and a consensus on this project
The captain and goalkeeper of the France team, Hugo Lloris, surrounded by his teammates, lifts the World Cup trophy, after the victory in the final, 4-2 against Croatia, on July 15, 2018 in Moscow Alexander NEMENOV AFP / Archives
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 min
The president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, defended on Monday, December 20, his plan to reform the world football calendar, including that of a World Cup organized every 2 years.
"
We will take the time it takes to move forward and draw conclusions,
" he said, however, giving no date for a vote on the subject.
According to FIFA, a biennial World Cup would generate an additional $ 4.4 billion in revenue.
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“
We will take the time it takes to move forward and draw conclusions.
This December 20, 2021 in Zurich, Gianni Infantino
defended a World Cup organized every 2 years
. But the Swiss have calmed the game over the adoption of this controversial project. Asked whether he would drop the idea of holding a vote on the subject at the next FIFA Congress on March 31, 2022 in Doha, the President of the International Football Federation (
FIFA
) replied: "
No! Have I already said that?
However, he did not want to confirm that the 211 member associations will soon have to decide on a vast reform of the world calendar which also concerns women's and youth competitions.
"
It is important to analyze, to study,
" insisted Infantino.
There is a lot of opposition, there are also a lot of favorable voices.
However, FIFA is a global organization.
That's why we really have to try to reconcile all these different points of view
”.
►
To (re) read: Foot: CAF supports a World Cup every 2 years and an African Superleague
On the side of the European football confederation (UEFA), in particular, opposition to a biennial World Cup has been fierce.
European football players believe that
the reform wanted by FIFA
could severely penalize them and have the support of the South American Confederation (Conmebol).
“
Maybe UEFA hadn't seen the numbers yet.
We presented these reports for the first time,
”slipped Infantino.
$ 4.4 billion in additional revenue
At the end of the Summit on the Future of World Football, FIFA unveiled the results of two feasibility studies carried out by the firms Nielsen and OpenEconomics.
“
Independent experts told us that hosting the FIFA World Cup every two years would generate additional revenue of up to $ 4.4 billion for the first quadrennial cycle, a sum that would benefit all 211 member associations.
"
According to FIFA, from this perspective, a solidarity fund of 3.5 billion dollars would be established with revenues to be distributed to all its member associations (MAs), thus injecting on average up to 16 million dollars to each MA.
“
The cake will be bigger for everyone.
And there will therefore be more for everyone
, "promised Gianni Infatino, also assuring that"
the younger generations want a World Cup to take place more often
.
Arsène Wenger, figurehead of a biennial World Cup, has expressed "
regret that 90% of the opposition [to the FIFA reform project, Editor's note] is emotional and not based on facts
".
“
No, we have to overcome these fears,
” claimed the Frenchman.
► To (re) read:
RFI poll: a World Cup every 4 years and the CAN every 2 years acclaimed
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