More than 1,000 male players were surveyed
A recent survey has found that 75 per cent of players want the World Cup to remain an event played every four years.
FIFA are keen to reduce the time period between each prestigious tournament and implement a biennial World Cup, with the governing body attempting to reform the current international match calendar.
However, there has been significant opposition to the prospect ever since it was first discussed, and now a survey of more than 1,000 male players across six continents shows that the general consensus among players is to keep the tournament every four years.
The survey, conducted by world players’ union FIFPRO and national player unions around the world in October and November 2021, found that 77 per cent of players in both Europe and Asia want the international calendar to remain how it is, with 63 per cent in favour in the Americas.
Forty nine per cent of African players favoured four-yearly World Cups, with the remainder of results split between playing the tournament every two or three years.
FIFAPRO added that ‘a demand exists, particularly in smaller and medium-sized markets, to further develop and strengthen national team competitions’.
“This is in line with FIFPRO’s position on encouraging investment into regional competitions, based on the requirements of the local market,” a statement from the union read.
📊⚽ Three in every four professional men’s footballers want to keep the FIFA World Cup every four years, according to a survey of 1,000 players from six continents and over 70 different nationalities.
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) February 15, 2022
FIFPRO general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said: “The player survey shows most footballers around the world have a clear preference to play the World Cup every four years.
“At the same time, the results demonstrate the importance of domestic league competitions to players.
“These leagues are the bedrock of our game and we have to do more to strengthen them both for the sake of players and the overall stability of professional football.
“This survey underlines the need for more collective bargaining frameworks in our industry, especially at the international level.”
UEFA, the European Club Association and European Leagues have all spoken against FIFA’s plans to change the footballing calendar, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin previously stating that European nations could boycott biennial World Cups.
Similarly, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said last week that the FA did not think biennial World Cups in the men’s or women’s game were a good idea.
Related links:
- FIFA president claims biennial World Cup would stop ‘Africans crossing Mediterranean sea’
- Biennial World Cup could cost domestic leagues and UEFA €8billion, says report
- Virgil Van Dijk meets with Arsene Wenger to outline biennial World Cup danger
