No, it is not a question of money but of universalism, of equality of opportunity. Armed with his pilgrim’s stick, planetary football boss Gianni Infantino continues to travel the globe to preach his good word: a bright future goes through the establishment of a World Cup every two years.
“The president of FIFA is the president of 111 countries and each of them has the right to dream,” he said Friday during a press conference at the Olympic stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, the first stage of ‘a South American tour. But the dream must have a possibility to come true, because if you are to dream for eternity, you will end up doing something else. “
The example of Venezuela
“Today, if we speak frankly, what are the real possibilities for Venezuela to participate in the World Cup? “, Let loose the Italo-Switzerland, recalling that the country of 30 million inhabitants has never participated in a World Cup and has very little chance of getting there under current conditions.
The more regular organization of a World Cup, associated with the increase already recorded from 2026 in the number of participants from 32 to 48, would thus give, according to him, more opportunity to previously minor footballing nations to take part. to the competition.
Infantino brushes aside the trivialization argument
“When it was decided that the World Cup would be every four years, about a hundred years ago, FIFA had 40 countries. It is time to analyze the question, ”he said, reiterating that a decision will be taken at“ the end of the year ”. “If we make changes, everyone has to be a winner,” Infantino promised. “The prestige of a competition does not depend on its frequency. Otherwise we would organize a World Cup every 40 years. It depends on the quality of the competition, ”he replied, ruling out any risk of spoiling the World Cup.
The FIFA president also estimated that this reform could allow players to approach the World Cup on an equal footing by reducing travel between continents for South American players with the establishment of grouped qualifying phases.
Como fanático del fútbol, the expresé al Presidente of FIFA mi apoyo para realizar el Mundial de Fútbol cada dos años. Es una extraordinaria idea, y una oportunidad para que más equipos vayan a esta fiesta deportiva y llenen de alegría, emoción y buenos ejemplos a la juventud. pic.twitter.com/HOYsXhPasx
– Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) October 16, 2021
“Studies show that travel, along with jet lag and climate change, is very bad for the health of players,” said the 51-year-old executive. “If Messi has to do 350,000 km to play a World Cup (a round trip Europe-America), and Cristiano Ronaldo 50,000 … It is normal that the South Americans are a little more tired than the Europeans”. Infantino notably mentioned a telling statistic: “Since 2002, Brazil has not won a match in the direct elimination phase, not in the group stage, against a European country. It’s been 20 years, and it’s Brazil! “.
Apparently, the FIFA boss has convinced Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom he met after his press conference at the presidential palace in Miraflores. ” I told him […] that it seemed to me an extraordinary idea that the FIFA World Cup could be played every two years. It’s a great opportunity, ”said the Chavista leader after a“ pleasant conversation ”with Infantino. As for UEFA, the next discussions with FIFA promise to be much less.