UEFA president Ceferin: FIFA has realised biennial World Cup is 'a no-go'
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin expects FIFA to backtrack on its plans for a World Cup every two years.
Aleksander Ceferin is confident FIFA will soon abandon its plans for a biennial World Cup, which he considers "a no-go for everyone in football".
FIFA, led by chief of global football development Arsene Wenger, has been pushing for its showpiece international tournament to take place every two years, rather than every four.
Opposition to biennial World Cup
The idea has been met with widespread opposition by others within football, however – particularly in Europe and South America.
And although the world governing body has publicly continued to pursue the change, UEFA president Ceferin says it has now accepted it cannot happen.
"A biennial World Cup is a no-go for everyone in football," Ceferin said at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit on Thursday.
"I am glad FIFA has realised that as well. I had a discussion with FIFA's president about it yesterday.
"We cannot say football on other continents cannot be developed, but we should be aligned, and it should not hurt European and South American federations.
"We have discussions, but as far as I am concerned, a biennial World Cup is off the table. I am sure we will come to a solution with FIFA soon."
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on situation in Ukraine: "Nobody from our side expected a war in middle of Europe. This is bigger than football. We have to do our part but we just want this madness to stop asap."
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) March 3, 2022