Gianni Infantino, the president of the world football governing body, FIFA, said since the Super Bowl is being held every year, people should not have problems with the biennial World Cup.
The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in America. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966.
While trying to give reasons why holding the World Cup every two years is a good idea, Infantino stressed that the biennial World Cup would not reduce the quality and the prestige that is attached to the football tournament.
The world football governing body has been trying to push the idea of the biennial World Cup since early this year. But critics of the football body do not want the World Cup which is played once in four years to be played once in two years.
They argue that if the World Cup is held once in two years, it would dilute the excitement of having to wait for four years for the tournament.
Others think that the biennial format of the global football tournament might clash with some continental football tournaments which are usually held once in two years.
Also, it is believed that the biennial World Cup would increase the number of games footballers would have to play and could make them more prone to injuries.
In addition to these disadvantages, critics of FIFA believe that the football body was not planning to change the structure of the tournament for the benefit of the footballers but to generate more money.
The proposed World Cup every two years is still at the stage of consultation under the coordination of former Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger.
In reaction to the criticism against the planned biennial World Cup, Gianni Infantino told journalists in Isreal that 48 teams would play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup instead of 32 teams.
He however noted that he is yet to be decided whether the edition of the World Cup would be biennial or remain the way it is.
“A World Cup with 48 teams [from 2026] has already been decided. Whether it will take place every two years or four years, that is under consultation,” he said.
“Believe in having more prestigious events, whether the World Cup or anything else… Precisely because it is a magic tournament is perhaps why it should happen more often.
“The prestige of an event depends on its quality, not its frequency. You have the Super Bowl every year, Wimbledon or the Champions League every year, and everyone is excited and waiting for it.”
@FIFAcom President Gianni Infantino arrived yesterday in Israel and met with the @ISRAELFA. Oren Hasson, chairman of the Israeli FA, presented to Infantino the FA strategic plans and vision for the upcoming years to further develop the Football in Israel. pic.twitter.com/13iujnYO9h
— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) October 12, 2021
