Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has given its backing to staging the World Cup every two years.
According to Motsepe who arrived in Accra on Wednesday as he embarked on a two-day visit to the country, the proposition for the global showpiece will be an opportunity for the African continent to benefit from it financially.
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“Side by side with the Super League is to have a World Cup every two years. African football must be put in a fundamental position to benefit financially,” the CAF president said during a session with the Sports Media in Ghana on Thursday, October 21.
“I am very clear in my mind that one of the biggest beneficiaries of football every two years is the developing world.”
Dr. Motsepe also dismissed suggestions labelling him as a ‘puppet’ to Gianni Infantino, adding that those who have known him for years know that he cannot be that.
“Nobody controls Patrice [Motsepe] except the people of Africa.
“Let me get this out of the way, I don’t need anybody’s money,” he concluded.
Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, has been promoting the idea of a biennial World Cup as part of the organization's review of the international match calendar and has repeated his support for the change from the established four-year cycle.
166 member associations have voted to approve a feasibility study when it was proposed by the Saudi Arabian federation earlier this year, Wenger was tasked by Fifa president Gianni Infantino with finding the best way to change it.
His ideas include:
- A biennial World Cup in even years;
- Confederation tournaments (including the European Championship) in odd years;
- Either one (October) or two (October and March) mid-season international breaks, for a month in total, when qualifying for major tournaments will take place, rather than the current five windows;
- Guaranteed rest periods of 25 days for players once tournaments are over.