Alejandro Domínguez suggested a biennial World Cup as an alternative to expanded continental tourneys.GETTY IMAGES
FIFA "is exploring the possibility of staging the World Cup every two years, rather than every four," the president of CONMEBOL confirmed on Friday, according to Rory Smith of the N.Y. TIMES. CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez submitted the proposal at a FIFA congress in Kigali, Rwanda, in October. Domínguez said on Friday that a biennial World Cup "would serve as a viable -- and even preferable -- alternative to the expanded continental championships" like UEFA’s Nations League and the Copa América. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin "has made clear his desire to incorporate South American teams into Europe’s new Nations League championship at some point." Though Domínguez, a Paraguayan, "insisted he was not opposed to that idea," he said that he had encouraged FIFA to "examine the benefits of changing the World Cup’s cycle instead." Any proposed changes to the World Cup "are sure to face opposition." Sponsors "are far more likely to invest in sports organizations that hold major events every two years rather than every four," something the IOC has experienced. Doubling the frequency of football’s "most glamorous tournament, however, not only would bring considerable economic benefits" but also would allow players to experience the World Cup "far more often in their careers," Domínguez said (N.Y. TIMES, 11/24).
