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Video conferences for the coaches will be held on Tuesday and
Thursday and will be led by former Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger, FIFA's head of Global Football Development.
UEFA have vowed to oppose FIFA's plans until they are dropped by
FIFA and sources told Reuters on Friday that European bodies
will refuse to participate in any new tournament and calendar if
the plans are pushed through at a planned vote in December.
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"As a coach of the men`s national teams, their input is
essential," Wenger, who has been central to the development of
FIFA's plans, said in a statement.
"Opportunities for us to come together are few and far between,
but we must embrace these occasions as such dialogue helps us
all to protect the unique place that football has in the world
and to make it truly global."
FIFA has argued that a biennial World Cup would lead to
increased chances for countries to play in the tournament and
that a streamlined qualification process, with fewer
international breaks, would reduce travel for players.
UEFA says that a more frequently held World Cup would dilute the
competition's prestige and that holding major tournaments every
year would increase the load on players and crowd the schedule.
FIFA is holding a separate consultation about the future of
women's football, headed by former U.S. women's national team
coach Jill Ellis.
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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