Currently, the FIFA World Cup and the Euro are held every four years. With the next edition of the former set for 2022 and the latter starting next summer after being postponed due to coronavirus.
Football must adapt to the modern world
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the UEFA Nations League should be scrapped. As he proposes that the World Cup and Euros should be held every two years to adapt to the “modern world”. Currently, the FIFA World Cup and the Euros are held every four years, with the next edition of the former set for 2022 and the latter starting next summer after being postponed due to coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Nations League was conceived by UEFA to give teams competitive matches between the two events, with teams currently competing in the second edition of that tournament. Portugal won the crown of the first Nations League, beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in June 2019 thanks to a goal from Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes in the 60th minute.
World Cup and Euros should be held every two years
But Wenger, FIFA’s Head of Global Football Development since 2019, says the average football fan doesn’t care or understand the Nations League. Instead, Wenger says, the Euros and the World Cup could be held every two years instead of every four, giving fans something to look after on the international stage. “We need to get rid of the Nations League and find clearer events that everyone understands,” he told reporters. “If you ask people on the street what the Nations League is, you won’t find many who can explain it. We need to do as many events as possible,” he added. “One World Cup and one European Championship every two years would probably be more suited to the modern world”. According to Wenger, all qualifiers would be played in just one month, making it easier to sell rights to broadcasters and sponsors.
The Arsenal boss says that FIFA has discussed the idea before. And he rejected the idea that hosting major tournaments would make them lose lustration more often. “I always tell people who say this that the image is not related to the time you wait before playing again. But rather to the quality of the competition,” he said. “After all, people also watch the Champions League every year”. He added: “I think it would be a great step forward.”