Europe is willing to block FIFA’s plan for World Cups no matter what is voted

The plans of the FIFA for a biennial World Cup they face blockage from European and South American opponents, even if they receive the support of most soccer federations, multiple sources told Reuters.

FIFA’s proposals will be put to a vote in December by the 211 member associations of the governing body of world football, and its president, Gianni Infantino, is traveling around the world to gather support for the plan, which has been led by the Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

If good sources close to FIFA indicate that Infantino is confident of getting the majority, with the support of federations in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, turning that support into real change may be more difficult.

European and South American clubs, leagues and confederations are confident that they can halt the plan, regardless of the outcome of a vote that, multiple sources told Reuters, increases the likelihood of a damaging split in international soccer.

The European Confederation UEFA has threatened to boycott an extra World Cup, while the South American body Conmebol also opposes the plans.

“Taking into account that the clubs, the leagues, UEFA and the Conmebol they are against it, it is unlikely that they will abide by the FIFA calendar, ”said a source in the football business with knowledge of the discussions among opponents of the plan.

FIFA has argued that a biennial World Cup would increase the chances that more countries will contest the tournament and that a simplified qualification process, with fewer international interruptions, would reduce player travel.

UEFA claims that a more frequent World Cup would dilute the prestige of the competition and that holding large tournaments each year would increase the burden on players and crowd the calendar.

Pitfalls

In a statement to Reuters on Friday, UEFA said the proposals “would damage all forms of football and devalue the competition itself.”

“This concept has all the earmarks of being a decision that FIFA wants to make in a hurry and let the rest of football regret bitterly in peace. Any attractiveness that is perceived is superficial, while the traps are hidden ”, indicated the organization.

“UEFA will continue to oppose it until common sense prevails and plans are abandoned,” he added.

However, Infantino shows no signs of backing down and held meetings with the South American federations on Friday.

FIFA’s governing council will meet on Wednesday, when it is expected to decide whether the December meeting of all its federations will be a full Extraordinary Congress or a new “global summit”.

The proposals are part of a major overhaul of the international match schedule, which determines when clubs have to give up players to play abroad.

In a sign of the growing cooperation between UEFA and Conmebol, both bodies recently took the unusual step of announcing plans to open a joint office in London and hold three editions of a match between the European and South American champions.

Sources have told Reuters that the various organizations representing clubs, leagues and other representative bodies have been coordinating closely with UEFA on how to respond to the December vote.

“For once, everyone is on the same page,” said a manager of European football.

Asked for a comment, FIFA referred to a statement from Infantino last month after a meeting of all the organization’s federations.

“We have the opportunity to shape the history of football, to look forward, to learn from the past and to design the future, because our vision is to make football truly global,” Infantino said.