Since the first FIFA men's World Cup nearly 100 years ago, the planet's biggest sporting event has been scheduled every four years. That tradition could be set to change if the vision of current FIFA president Gianni Infantino comes to pass: He's pushing to hold the men's World Cup every two years.
The proposal has ignited significant debate around the globe, with fans and continental governing bodies taking sides.
It's an idea that is believed to be supported by 166 of the 210 member associations of FIFA, according to an ESPN report from early September. And Infantino recently said that he believed the majority of associations would vote in favor of it though no vote has been scheduled.
But some of the high-profile opponents include European governing body UEFA, which through its president Aleksander Ceferin, has stated publicly on multiple occasions that it will not concede to the new calendar without a fight.
Here are the latest updates on where things stand and what it could mean for the sport if the plan is approved or rejected.
World Cup every two years: Latest updates
FIFA released a comprehensive report to its member associations on Dec. 20 that detailed the benefits of the proposal, including the estimate that a revamped international calendar with a World Cup every two years would generate $4.4 billion in additional revenue per four-year cycle. With the additional income, the split among the member associations would see an average of $16 million in additional revenue shared with each member association.
In addition, the FIFA report cited a commissioned independent study which estimated that the plan would increase GDP by $180 billion and see more than two million jobs created per four-year cycle.
UEFA, which opposes the plan, released its own statement claiming European member associations could actually stand to lose over $2-3 billion per four-year cycle due to lost sponsorships and media revenue. FIFA countered this claim by stating it would set up a $3.5 billion "solidarity fund" to make up any differences that associations experience as a result of the changes.
Another UEFA counter to the two-year plan: Fears that the women's game could see a dip in revenue due to a lack of exposure and interest given the spotlight that the men's World Cup would command. But there's a FIFA advisory group that's also studying the feasability of expanding the women's World Cup to a two-year cycle.
