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FIFA Council to arrange December meeting to discuss biennial World Cup plan

Many sporting governing bodies including UEFA are against plans to introduce World Cups every two years; a definitive vote on a new international football calendar will likely take place in 2022

France World Cup 2018
Image: Senior figures at FIFA want to press ahead with discussing plans to hold World Cups every two years

FIFA is expected to confirm that it will stage a global summit in December in order to reach more widespread consensus around the plans for the new international match calendar and their biennial World Cup concept.

The proposals have been met with opposition from European confederation UEFA, which has said it will stand against them "until common sense prevails and they are dropped".

European Leagues and the European Club Association have also criticised the plans and what they see as a lack of consultation over them.

The December meeting will be for member associations rather than other stakeholder groups such as the ECA, the World Leagues Forum or world players' union FIFPRO. A similar four-hour summit was held in September.

Gianni Infantino
Image: FIFA president Gianni Infantino is a key advocate of the biennial World Cup idea

Whilst a decision on the matter hasn't been ruled out for this year, it now looks more likely that a FIFA Congress will be called in the spring of 2022 when a definitive vote will determine the future international football schedule.

FIFA sent invitations to consult to confederations like UEFA, as well as other clubs, leagues and player stakeholder bodies, in early September.

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Arsene Wenger backs the reasoning behind proposals for a biennial World Cup, and says players want to play big games more regularly

National team coaches such as England boss Gareth Southgate have been invited to online conferences this week to discuss the plans.

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FIFA's plans for the men's calendar include a major tournament every June, fewer qualifiers, one or at most two in-season international breaks and mandatory 25-day rest periods for players at the end of summer tournaments.

The calendar proposals have been developed by a technical advisory group, led by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now the chief of global football development at FIFA.

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