The World Cup could be up for grabs every two years under a plan being considered by FIFA

Premier League clubs have expressed alarm at FIFA’s plans to hold the World Cup finals every two years.

The World Cup schedule could change under a plan pushed by Arsene Wenger

Manchester City and Leeds United have expressed alarm at FIFA’s plans to hold the World Cup finals every two years.

Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development, will this week reveal detailed proposals for a biennial tournament. FIFA is carrying out a feasibility study and there are fears among the clubs and at UEFA that the change will be pushed through, given that 166 of the 211 member countries voted for the initial idea put forward in May by Saudi Arabia, close allies of Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president.

Manchester City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, speaking after the European Club Association annual meeting in Geneva, said: “There is no space for anything. The players cannot play more games, that’s for sure.”

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani questioned why clubs are yet to be consulted by FIFA and suggested a compromise would be to hold the tournament every three years.

The World Cup has taken place every four years since it was first held in 1930, apart from a break during the Second World War.

Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, is leading the discussions at a two-day meeting involving coaches and former players, including Michael Owen, John Terry and Yaya Toure.

Spelling out his plan last week to L’Equipe, Wenger said: “The idea is to reduce the number of qualifying matches, group them together and at the end of the season have a World Cup and championship for each confederation every two years. In between these two qualifying windows, the player would stay at their club all year. There will be the same number of matches.”

Gareth Bale, the Wales forward, is not keen on the idea. “I like the tradition of every four years — it has the prestige, like the Olympics,” he said.

The Times