FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said he believes a proposal to stage the Women’s World Cup every two years instead of four should be looked into.
Infantino told fifa.com: “With France 2019, we had more than 1 billion viewers around the world and some incredible figures in countries where normally women’s football is not anywhere close to the men’s game, such as Italy, Brazil or England. This tremendous success triggered a few proposals, on which we are already working. Besides, (French Football Federation) president (Noël) Le Graët came up with a proposal that went a bit unnoticed: of playing the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ every two years instead of four. This would generate benefits and momentum that fit exactly with what the women’s game needs right now. It is something we should put up for discussion.”
Any such discussions might find issues around tournament schedules, especially the Euros and clashes with men’s finals, not to mention a large increase of games in the international calendar which will be exacerbated by the jump from 24 to 32 teams from the 2023 Women’s World Cup onwards. All of which surely means more international duty for players and less time off before returning to domestic competition.
