Also IOC Contra World Cup plans: That would undermine the variety of sport

At the advertising tour of South America for a World Cup every two years, Gianni Infantino reached the next resistance to his current favorite project. For the first time, the International Olympic Committee in the dispute shifted to the future of world football - and referred to a clear manner unfamiliar to his circumstances. The rings organization officially brought worried about the FIFA plans and supported receivables for a broader consultation of all those affected.

In addition, a spokesman on Sunday morning with the sentence was quote that IOC President Thomas Bach had been contacted at no time by IOC member Infantino to discuss the proposals for the reform of the appointment calendar. Even if Bach & Co. have no direct saying, Infantino s opponents from Europe and South America may feel confirmed in their criticism.

In a communication after the executive meeting, the IOC also warned that a two-year-shorter World Cup rhythm would also negatively affect other sports - including tennis, cycling, golf, gymnastics, athletics and formula 1. That would undermine the variety and development of sport outside of football. In addition, the expansion of the calendar would lead to challenges for women s football and pollen the players mentally and physically massively.

Also read: Questions and answers: What does the FIFA plan mean?

With these arguments, UEFA and the South American Continental Association of Conmebol criticized the shortening of the rhythm, UEFA boss Aleksander Cefer threatened with a boycott. The UEFA will continue to defend itself until the healthy sense wins and the plans are dropped, said a UEFA spokesman on the weekend. Every supposed stimulus is superficial while the pitfalls are big.

Infantino continues to defend his plans

Infantino, regardless of the headwind, continued his advertising for the plans of a World Cup every two years. I believe that the prestige of a competition does not depend on the time he is held, said the 51-year-old on Friday (local time) in Caracas, where he met Venezuela s President Nicolás Maduro. Otherwise we would have to align the World Cup every 40 years. Infantino was already in Colombia before that detour and wanted to travel on his journey Ecuador, Chile and Argentina.

A technical advisory group of FIFA for Director Arsène Wenger had proposed the World Cup orientation every two years, also the rhythm of continental tournaments as the EM would be shortened. As a result, the changes according to World Cup 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico should finally reach 48 nations for the first time. 2027 would then be the tournaments of the Confederations. In the previously planned EM year 2028, the next World Cup would be on again.

Compromise Worldwide Nations League?

Alone a negative vote from Europe and South America would not be enough for a vote among all FIFA members to stop this project. Nevertheless, the Times reported on Sunday that FIFA is now ready for compromises. World Association Vice President Victor Montagliani from Canada, which represents the Confederation from North and Central America as well as the Caribbean, could possibly preserve the situation on the edge of a civil war ( Times ) before the final escalation as a mediator. One possible compromise would be another, international tournament: a worldwide Nations League, according to the model of the European version, as an additional event instead of a World Cup every two years would possibly back on the agenda.