(Geneva) Opponents of FIFA’s campaign to hold World Cups every two years appear to be afraid of losing their hegemony at the top of world football, its president Gianni Infantino said.
Infantino’s speech to African football leaders was a criticism of Europe and South America which have dominated every World Cup and threaten to boycott biennial men’s tournaments.
“Those who are against are those who are at the top,” Infantino told officials of the assembly of the African Football Confederation bringing together 54 countries in Cairo.
“It happens in all walks of life, when there are reforms and changes, those at the top don’t want to change anything,” added Infantino, who was a senior UEFA official until his election for a long time. as FIFA president in 2016. They may be afraid that if anything changes their leadership position will be threatened. ”
Europe and South America have delegated all the teams that have played the 21 World Cup finals since the first in 1930, and their historic power has earned them at least 18 of the 32 participants for the 2022 edition to the Qatar.
“We understand that and we congratulate and applaud them for being so successful in reaching the top,” said Infantino. It’s fantastic and they are an example for everyone. But at the same time, we cannot close the door (to others). ”
No African team has reached a men’s World Cup semi-final and the continent has only five of the 32 registered for 2022. This will drop to at least nine when the 48-team tournament kicks off in 2026.
Infantino has been pushing for biennial World Cups to help other regions grow and close the gap – giving nations more opportunities to qualify and players more opportunities to perform in the most. big stage.
An additional Men’s World Cup over a four-year cycle would likely add around three billion to FIFA’s current revenue and increase funding for its 211 member federations and six continental bodies.
“It is our responsibility to nurture the dream to give opportunities to everyone,” said FIFA executives.
The backlash at all levels of European football since FIFA officially detailed its two-year plan in September led Infantino to say last month that any change must come by consensus without harming the sport.
European and South American football officials see threats to the status of their own continental and national competitions, and an increased workload for players.
Infantino again hinted that a modified tournament might be a solution to gaining expanded support.
“Will it be with the World Cup or some other way?” he raised in front of the members of CAF, which is currently the continental body most closely linked to FIFA. We have to study, of course, all of this. ”
Annual 48-team youth tournaments, instead of the biennial Men’s and Women’s Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups, are also part of FIFA’s plan to develop football. It was detailed in Cairo by Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal coach and FIFA director of global development.
Infantino has warned of losing a generation of young players whose birth years fall at the wrong time in the current tournament cycle.