Soccer

IOC the latest to speak out against plans to hold a biennial World Cup

Governing body responsible for the Olympiics calls for more consultation from Fifa

Plans to host the soccer World Cup every two years have prompted several negative responses, including from the International Olympic Committee. Photograph: Jewel Samad/Getty Images

Sun Oct 17 2021 - 16:52

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed strong reservations about Fifa's plans to expand the World Cup into a biennial affair, and the organisation called for wider consultation from soccer's international governing body moving forward.

Citing three primary concerns, the IOC outlined its main concerns as a potential negative impact on other sports, gender equality and player welfare/health.

Not referenced by the IOC is a potential impact on the Olympic men’s soccer tournament if the World Cup was held every two years.

The IOC’s statement read, in part: “The IOC shares these concerns and supports the calls of stakeholders of football, International Sports Federations and major event organizers for a wider consultation, including with athletes’ representatives, which has obviously not taken place.”

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Fifa’s head of football development Arsène Wenger first revealed this summer Fifa’s intent to explore the possibility of a World Cup taking place every two years, and opposition has risen steadily since.

Several coaches, players, federations and players associations have voiced public dissent for the plan, which Fifa has continued to back publicly.

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