Infantino has suggested the possibility to more tournaments held in winter and international club competitions, declaring that football needs to remain open to new ideas about relocating major tournaments out of the summer months.
Discussions Underway for Schedule Beyond 2030
Discussions are under way about the post-2030 match timetable, a key area of concern given the increased squeeze caused by larger tournaments. FIFA has set up a working group to study the matter, and FIFA itself has given itself a headache by awarding the 2034 World Cup to the Gulf country. The event will likely be held during winter months, following the Qatar model. The president proposed football needs to adapt to detaching from summer months in Europe.
“We're deep into detailed discussions, we are discussing all the time,” he stated. “The discussion extends beyond one event, it's broader consideration. Even when playing in parts of Europe in July it is very, very hot.”
Improving the Match Schedule
Infantino was speaking during the European Football Clubs annual meeting in Rome. Similar opinions were voiced to hundreds of attendees, saying: “We must consider the globalisation of the worldwide football schedule.” He cited October and March as “periods suitable for global play.”
Such a drastic reconfiguration would create disruptions, though the organization's capacity to implement its wishes could be challenged if a formal complaint concerning the schedule enforcement, submitted to European authorities earlier by football leagues, triggers legal processes.
Growing the International Club Competition
FIFA is also looking at methods to enlarge the international club championship. An expanded format might be used in the future, potentially featuring preliminary qualification matches that reduces the total count to 32 teams. The president referenced ambitious plans in his conference presentation, saying FIFA would “endeavor to find ways to grow this competition, improved further, even more impactful.”
Possible Locations for Future Events
The Iberian and North African nations are frontrunners to stage the 2029 event, scheduled to occur in warmer months, though additional candidates have been weighed up. A swift return to America is possible and it is understood the Asian nation, which was scheduled to host the tournament in 2021 before the pandemic, still wants to host.
Officials are thinking about organizing the club championship biennially following 2029. The Gulf state leads the race to stage the 2031 tournament, a scenario that might prove more straightforward if the suggested adjustments come to fruition given a winter scheduling would be inevitable.
Worries Regarding International Matches
Infantino said any lasting change towards holding domestic competitions on other continents would be a significant danger. Recent developments saw authorization provided for fixtures in the United States and Down Under, emphasising this was granted on an exceptional basis. FIFA's final say represents a procedural step, yet Infantino seemed to imply the idea caused discomfort.
“We have a structure whereby we have games within countries, regionally and worldwide,” he explained. “This framework that developed football the world's most popular sport globally. If we disrupt this framework, we endanger everything.”
Catalan Club Rejoins Organization
In additional news at the conference, was confirmation of the Catalan club's comeback to the fold, which was anticipated by Barcelona's leader participating at the official dinner. The team exited the association after the abortive Super League project in 2021, which they had driven alongside Real Madrid and Juventus.
The organization's leader the football executive joked that their rekindled relationship became formal during a “romantic walk”. Their readmission appears to reduce chances on any revival of the breakaway league project.
