75% of footballers surveyed oppose a World Cup every two years

Professional soccer players are widely opposed to the project of organizing the World Cup every two years promoted by FIFAwith 75% of players in favor of keeping the current four-year format, according to a survey by fifprothe world players union, published this Tuesday.

fifpro interviewed over 1,000 male professional footballers from all over the world about their desire to change the international calendar, which FIFA intends to reform.

According to the union’s study, 77% of European and Asian players prefer a World Cup every four years, compared to 63% of players in the Americas.

The questioning is more important among African players, that only 49% want to keep the current format, the rest are divided between the proposals of a World Cup every two and three years.

“There is a demand in small and medium markets to develop and strengthen international competitions”, he remarked. fifprowhich wishes to “promote investment in regional competitions”.

Asked about their favorite competition, 81% of players around the world opt for their national championship or the World Cup “in their current four-year cycle”.

“Only 21% of players believe that their voice is respected and that their well-being is sufficiently considered by the governance of international football,” the union’s general secretary, Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Defended by the president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, the hypothesis of a biennial competition, and not four years, is fought by a front that goes from the European and South American federations to the big clubs. However, it has the support of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). (D)