Fan Opposition to Two Year World Cup Cycle

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Supporter organisations around the globe have come together to sign a statement condemning FIFA’s plans for a two-year World Cup cycle.

FIFA’s plans for a two-year World Cup cycle, alternating between the men’s and women’s game each summer, recently emerged and their chief of global football development Arsène Wenger claimed “it’s what fans want.”

But this week, supporter organisations condemned the plans in a joint statement.

"The overwhelming majority of fans oppose a biennial World Cup cycle – and if FIFA had bothered to engage with us on the subject, they would have known this to be the case,” the joint statement, signed by the FSA and FSA Cymru, says. "We do not want or need more World Cups."
 
Given the enormous cost of staging a World Cup, the carbon footprint of moving fans around the world and the devaluing of the competition in its current format, it instinctively feels like a non-starter.

It would perhaps be beneficial to nations in regions with a weak regional competition like Asia, but it would force Europe into a 2 year cycle, which in turn has a knock on effect on international club competitions.

Perhaps if it replaced the European international Championship?
 
Ironic that UEFA and FA oppose more World Cups citing over-exposure and saturation yet it is exactly the same in their competitions. When there was one live TV game on a weekend, it was a big event that lots of fans tuned in or went to the pub to watch. Now you can't avoid Premier or Champions League games even if you want to.
 
Interesting link that.

We've been led to believe that the rest of the world want this, and that it's only Europe that is dragging its heels.

That list is indeed largely European, but there's plenty of nations outside too whose opposition came as an eye opener. Specifically, I noted a few nations who only occasionally qualify, Canada, New Zealand and a few African nations, who would likely benefit from this, and who I thought might be in favour.
I'm not sure Luxembourg fans need worry about the expense of attending too many tournaments though, but I appreciate them lending their voice.

I'd be quite happy with a 32 team WC every 4 years, but with fewer automatic European qualifiers to give the rest of the world more chance.
 
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