The World Cup is an official FIFA competition that is held every 4 years. Its inaugural edition commenced on the 13th of July, 1930, with Uruguay serving as the first host country. Notably, Uruguay clinched the first-ever FIFA World Cup victory on their home soil.
Frequency of the World Cup
The World Cup has consistently maintained a four-year cycle since its inception in 1930, except for the years 1942 and 1946 when it was not held due to the outbreak of World War II.
There have been discussions regarding the possibility of changing the World Cup’s frequency from every four years to every two years. FIFA, the governing body of international football, believes that holding the competition biennially would lead to a substantial increase in revenue.
As evidence, FIFA points out that the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France drew an estimated viewership of around 1.5 billion people. Therefore, FIFA argues that if the tournament were played every two years, the number of viewers would likely experience a significant surge.
However, this proposal from FIFA has faced criticism from players like Kylian Mbappe. They express concerns that playing the World Cup more frequently would compromise its distinctiveness and special nature.
According to Mbappe and others, the tournament’s specialness comes in part from happening once every four years, which builds up excitement and makes it feel more grand. Therefore, they argue that changing the tournament to occur every two years would probably make it less special and less interesting to people.
Overview
FIFA announced that starting in 2026, the number of teams participating in the World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48. However, many players have expressed their concerns about this increase, as it is expected to result in fatigue among the players. Consequently, the total number of games played in the tournament will rise from 64 to 104.
According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, expanding the number of teams from 32 to 48 will provide additional opportunities for teams to participate in the competition.
The new format ensures that each region is represented by at least one team from Oceania, a minimum of six teams from South America, a minimum of six teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean combined, a minimum of eight teams from Asia, a minimum of nine teams from Africa, and exactly 16 teams from Europe.
Factors Impacting World Cup Frequency
- Global Events: The calendar of world sports needs to be taken into account for the purpose of scheduling big international tournaments. The dates and frequency of the World Cup may be affected by additional high-profile sporting events, e.g. Olympic Games or continental championships.
- FIFA Regulations: The regulations and guidelines for the World Cup shall be drawn up by FIFA, the international governing body of football. These regulations may be used to determine the number of events, and any changes must be approved by the FIFA Executive Committee.
- Player Welfare and Rest Periods: In order, for football players to keep their body and mind in good condition, it requires adequate rest periods. In terms of player welfare considerations, ensuring sufficient time for recovery and preparation between the competitions may have an impact on the frequency of the World Cup.
- Infrastructure and Hosting Requirements: It is important to have major infrastructure such as stadiums, transportation networks, and accommodations in order to host the World Cup.
- Financial Considerations: One of the reasons FIFA was considering changing the competition from every four-year to two-year is to generate more revenue. The World Cup is the world’s largest and biggest sporting event, generating substantial revenue through TV rights, sponsorship deals as well as ticket sales.
- Global Football Development: As I’ve said above, the number of teams will increase from 32 teams to 48 teams because FIFA believes this will provide opportunities for more countries to participate and showcase their footballing talents on a global stage.
Possible Changes to World Cup Frequency
Proposed Changes
The proposal to change the frequency of the competition from every two years to every four years is currently under discussion, but it has not yet been approved. Ongoing talks are being held regarding this potential modification.
The decision to increase the number of teams from 32 to 48 has been officially approved and will be implemented immediately, starting from the 2026 World Cup.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Increased opportunities for player participation: Additional opportunities for players from all over the world to represent their countries at the highest level would be provided by a more frequent World Cup. In this way, emerging talent can be promoted and more players can experience the highest level of international football.
- Potential economic benefits: The hosting of the World Cup will bring significant economic benefits for host countries in terms of increased tourism, employment, and infrastructure development. For a greater number of countries, more frequent World Cup could potentially provide such economic benefits.
Cons
- Reduced exclusivity and prestige: Due to its infrequent occurrence, the World Cup has managed to hold onto its title as the most prestigious international football competition. Its exclusivity and the atmosphere around the event may be diminished by increasing its frequency, which may lessen its attraction and significance.
- Stress on teams and players: Players who already have hard schedules may experience additional physical and mental stress from more frequent World Cups. As a result, there may be a greater danger of injury, weariness, and club and national commitment conflicts.
- Effect on other contests: A more frequent World Cup could have an impact on the timing and significance of other events, including domestic leagues and continental championships. It might throw off the balance of the football schedule and possibly diminish the importance of other competitions.
FAQs
When is the next World Cup?
The upcoming World Cup is scheduled for 2026 and will be a collaborative effort between three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Sixteen cities across these countries have been selected as hosts for the tournament.
How often is the Women’s World Cup?
The Women’s World Cup is traditionally held every four years, typically taking place one year after the Men’s World Cup.
Who is hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by 16 cities located in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Which country has won the most football World Cup?
The country that has won the most football World Cup is Brazil. They’ve won the competition five times and they’re the only team that has participated in every World Cup tournament.
