AFC backs FIFA's biennial World Cup feasibility study

[September 14, 2021] (Reuters) - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it welcomed https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/afc-statement-on-the-international-match-calendar-consultations world governing body FIFA's plan to conduct a feasibility study into staging the World Cup every two years instead of every four.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, Asian Football Confederation president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the stands during the match REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo

The region is guaranteed four automatic spots and an intercontinental play-off slot for the men's 2022 World Cup, alongside tournament hosts Qatar.

FIFA's proposal of staging a biennial World Cup has been met with opposition, with Europe's governing body UEFA rejecting the idea while the South American confederation said the proposal was "highly unviable".

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football said it was open to the idea, provided that it created a more balanced structure for the game globally.

(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.