Global players’ survey gives thumbs-down to two-year World Cup

Footballers around the world have given a resounding red card to FIFA’s proposal to hold the World Cup every two years, according to a survey by players’ global union Fifpro.

The findings, released on Tuesday, showed 75% of more than 1,000 male players questioned over the global governing body’s plans to shake-up the international calendar were in favour of retaining the tournament’s current four-year cycle.

📊⚽ Three in every four professional men’s footballers want to keep the FIFA World Cup every four years, according to a survey of 1,000 players from six continents and over 70 different nationalities.

— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) February 15, 2022

In Europe and Asia 77% of players supported maintaining the status quo, against 63% from the Americas.

In Africa the figure dropped to 49%, with the remainder split between holding the competition every two or three years.

“While a clear majority of players support the current frequency of the World Cup, a demand exists, particularly in smaller and medium-sized markets, to further develop and strengthen national team competitions,” Fifpro said.

When asked to pick their preferred competition 81% singled out their domestic league or the World Cup “in its current four-year cycle”.

Fifpro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said the survey showed “most footballers around the world have a clear preference to play the World Cup every four years”.

He said the results also underlined the importance of domestic league competitions to players.