FIFA, the football’s global governing body, is proposing to cut the gap between its showpiece tournaments to two years as part of wider reforms of the international match calendar.FifPro, the global soccer players’ union, carried out a new survey which has revealed that 75 percent of respondents want the World Cup to remain an event played every four years.More than 1,000 male players from more than 70 nationalities coming from six continents represents the most significant indication yet of players’ opposition to FIFA’s idea.The survey was conducted last year (in October and November) around the world and its results showed that 49 percent of African players favoured four-yearly World Cups, with the remainder split between playing the tournament every two or three years. Elsewhere, 77 percent of players in both Europe and Asia supported the status quo, dropping to 63 percent in the Americas.Chelsea win the FIFA Club World Cup thanks to Havertz’s extra-time penaltyHowever, FifPro did add that ‘a demand exists, particularly in smaller and medium-sized markets, to further develop and strengthen national team competitions’.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.”Football or survival: Honduran players left the pitch with hypothermia, sweaty shirts turned to icicles at -19°CAlso, the survey revealed that 81 percent of players rank either their domestic league or the World Cup, in its current four-year cycle, as their favourite competition.It also found that only 21 percent of players believe their well-being is adequately considered and that their voice is respected in the context of international soccer governance.‘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.Different kits, different country names, but the same outcome – Mauritius lose againUEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said European nations could boycott biennial World Cups, while Mark Bullingham, chief executive of English soccer’s governing Football Association (FA), said recently that his organisation did not think biennial World Cups in the men’s or women’s game were a good idea and that he did not think the plans would come to fruition.24.03. Thu 22:45: (1.25) Italy (5.80) Macedonia (12.0)FifPro’s president David Aganzo thanked his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino after he met with male and female players, along with Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive Maheta Molango, in Manchester last month to discuss the future calendar and player welfare.A team full of immigrants makes a country of ice hockey fans start dreaming of World Cup footballAganzo said at the time: “With plenty of discussions to be had, it is positive to see that an open dialogue is taking place and being promoted.”Fifa’s plans for a revamped calendar to come into effect from 2024 have already met considerable opposition from other European bodies, with UEFA, the European Club Association and European Leagues coming out against them.24.03. Thu 22:45: (1.40) Portugal (4.90) Turkey (9.00)
