Infantino’s speech to African soccer leaders was a clear
criticism of Europe and South America which have dominated every World Cup and
are threatening a boycott of biennial men’s tournaments.
“Those who are against are those who are at the top,”
Infantino told officials from the 54-nation Confederation of African Football
meeting in Cairo.
“It happens in every sector of life, when there are reforms
and changes, those who are at the top don’t want anything to change,” said
Infantino, who was a long-time senior official at UEFA until being elected FIFA
president in 2016. “They are afraid, maybe, that if something changes their
leadership position is at risk.”
Europe and South America have provided every team to play in
all 21 World Cup finals since the first in 1930, and their historical strength
has earned them at least 18 of the 32 entries at the 2022 edition in Qatar.
“We understand that and we compliment and applaud them for
having been so successful in reaching the top,” Infantino said. “This is
fantastic and they are an example for everyone. But at the same time we cannot
close the door (to others).”
No African team has reached a men’s World Cup semifinal and
the continent has just five of the 32 entries. That rises to at least nine when
the 48-team tournament debuts in 2026.
Infantino has pushed for biennial World Cups to help other
regions develop and close the gap — by giving nations more chances to qualify
and players more chances to perform on the biggest stage.
An extra men’s World Cup in a four-year cycle would likely
add around $3 billion at current levels to FIFA income and increase funding to
its 211 member federations and six continental bodies.
“It is our responsibility to keep the dream open to give
opportunities to everyone,” the FIFA leaders said.
Still, the backlash from all levels of European soccer since
FIFA formally detailed its biennial plan in September led Infantino to say last
month that any changes must be reached by consensus without doing harm to the
game.
European and South American soccer officials see threats to
the status of their own continental and domestic competitions, and an increased
workload for players.
Infantino hinted again on Friday that a modified tournament
could be a solution to getting wider support.
“Will it be with the World Cup or will it be in another
way?” he told members of CAF, which is currently the continental body most
closely aligned with FIFA. “We have to study, of course, all this.”
Annual 48-team youth tournaments, instead of the two-yearly
World Cups for men and women at under-20 and under-17 level, are also part of
FIFA’s plan to develop soccer. It was detailed in Cairo by Arsène Wenger, the
former Arsenal coach who is FIFA director of global development.
Infantino warned of losing a generation of youth players
whose birth year falls at the wrong time in the current cycle of tournaments.
FIFA has organized an online summit of its 211 members on Dec.
20 to discuss a strategy for future tournaments.
No vote on biennial World Cups is expected then amid the
current opposition, which includes a show of unity by UEFA and South American
soccer body CONMEBOL. They have created a shared office in London that opens
next month. -AP
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