President of world football governing body says stakeholders need to “keep an open mind”
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has hinted that future World Cups could be moved away from the traditional summer date, with the world football governing body currently in discussions to find the optimal time for the competition.
There has been much controversy over the issue of the footballing calendar, with Fifa under pressure to address problems such as fixture congestion and extreme weather conditions in certain regions.
The Club World Cup was played in extremely hot conditions in the United States last summer, while the 2034 men’s World Cup has been awarded to Saudi Arabia.
That tournament is almost certain to be held during the winter to avoid the Middle Eastern nation’s punishing summer heat.
Speaking at the European Football Clubs assembly in Rome, Infantino said football must adapt to a changing climate, but that stakeholders had to “keep an open mind”.
“We are already into the nitty-gritty, we are discussing all the time,” said Infantino. “It’s not just about one World Cup, it’s a general reflection. Even to play in some European countries in July it is very, very hot. The best month to play football, which is June, is not used very much in Europe.
“Maybe there are ways we can optimise the calendar, but we are discussing it and we will see when we come to some conclusions. We just have to keep an open mind.”
Infantino also said that Fifa was exploring ways to “globalise” the match calendar, suggesting that months such as October and March could become viable windows for international competitions in the future.
Any move to shift major tournaments away from summer would mark a significant break from tradition and could spark further conflict with domestic leagues and players’ unions, which have already criticised Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup and its growing influence over the global calendar.
