IOC expresses Olympic concern in FIFA’s biennial World Cup plan
The International Olympic Committee said it was “concerned” by FIFA pressure to hold the Football World Cup every two years.
Although IOC President Thomas Bach said last month, “We will not interfere in this discussion,” his organization elaborated on objections shared with football stakeholders after meeting in Athens on Saturday.
The schedule clashes with other sports, the men’s World Cup oversees the women’s editions of the tournament, and “another heavy strain” on athlete welfare were all cited in an IOC statement after an executive board meeting.
The IOC in its statement did not mention potential future World Cup–Olympic conflicts – possibly as early as 2028 when the Summer Games are hosted by Los Angeles.
The IOC criticized FIFA’s strategy in promoting the biennial World Cup project, saying that extensive consultations in football “clearly have not taken place.”
FIFA revealed its detailed plans to redraw the calendar of international football competitions with the biennial World Cup for men and women after meeting with retired players last month.
The proposal, strongly supported by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was announced before formally consulting member associations in the World Cup strongholds of Europe and South America.
Those regions’ governing bodies, UEFA and CONMEBOL, have warned of a boycott of the World Cup if FIFA goes ahead with a plan that would undermine their continental championships, a four-year cycle similar to the IOC’s summer games. are held on. All in the next 2024.
The IOC cited “tennis, cycling, golf, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, Formula One and many others” as sports that would be affected by more World Cups.
“This would undermine the diversity and development of sports other than football,” the Olympic body said.
FIFA, whose next scheduled World Cups are in 2022 and 2026, has expressed no desire to stick to even-numbered years for the biennial men’s World Cup. A proposal could possibly be made to switch to odd-numbered years starting in 2029.
At an Olympic briefing after an executive board meeting, spokesman Mark Adams was asked whether Infantino, who is an IOC member, had spoken with Bach about the biennial World Cup plan before going public.
Adams said he could not give details, although the IOC is in contact with the sport’s governing bodies.
Asked about FIFA’s plans at an IOC news conference last month, Bach suggested that the “contributions of continental associations” – such as UEFA and CONMEBOL – were clarifying the issues.
FIFA has not set a formal date for a decision on its World Cup proposal, although it has suggested that its 211 national members may meet in December.
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