FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed Thursday at the ECA General Assembly that discussions are underway on a permanent change to the international calendar. Paris Saint-Germain and other European clubs may therefore have to adapt to a Winter World Cup, as in 2022, as early as the 2034 edition, scheduled for Saudi Arabia, according to The Guardian.
Discussions are already taking place at FIFA regarding the post-2030 agenda. “We need to work together to achieve the goals we set,” Infantino told the ECA General Assembly today. The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia has a very good chance of being played at the end of the year, like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (@guardian) »
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has shaken up traditional practices, but it has also paved the way for a new model. Gianni Infantino sees an opportunity: to align the World Cup with periods more favorable to the host countries in the Gulf, where summer temperatures often exceed 45°C. If this idea is confirmed, European clubs—including PSG—will have to completely rethink their preparations: a longer winter break, a compressed domestic schedule, and an increased risk of injuries upon resuming play. Behind the climate issue lies an economic challenge: broadcasting the competition at optimal times for Asian and American markets. World football is reinventing itself, but at the cost of an ever-increasing imbalance between national teams and clubs.
