In the dispute between Fifa and Uefa over a World Cup every two instead of four years from 2026, the DFB has so far been covered. That should change after the presidium meeting next Friday.
According to BamS information, a clear position should then be taken – against the plan of Fifa boss Gianni Infantino and pro Uefa boss Aleksander Ceferin, who is even threatening a World Cup boycott of the Europeans.
The DFB would join the boycott, it is said, because the sporting devaluation of the European championship to a “better World Cup qualifying tournament” is feared. Especially since the dwindling attractiveness of the European Championship would also have negative financial consequences: Uefa can still pay significantly more lucrative tournament premiums than Fifa. Example World Cup 2014: The title win brought the DFB a surplus of five million euros. So much remains at an EM from the quarter-finals.
The Uefa Nations League and the Women’s World Cup, which so far always take place in the year after the Men’s World Cup, would also be affected. Infantino’s plan calls for the men’s European Championship to be brought forward to 2027 because the next World Cup should be played in 2028.
Then the men’s and women’s championships would be held in the same year (2027). Consequences: less interest from fans, TV broadcasters and sponsors in the women’s tournament. In addition, the Nations League would likely have to be overturned.
This will be discussed in the middle of next week at a video conference of the executives of the 55 UEFA member associations. Joined for the DFB: the interim dual leadership Rainer Koch and Peter Peters as well as interim general secretary Heike Ullrich. Another power word is expected from Uefa boss Ceferin towards Infantino.
It should be clear to the Fifa President: A World Cup without Europe and South America – the Confederation wants to protect its Copa America – makes neither sport nor financial sense for Fifa.
Internal assumption at the DFB: In principle, Infantino is not interested in the World Cup. In reality, he wants to improve his negotiating position with Uefa when it comes to the Club World Cup for clubs.
Infantino has succeeded in increasing the Club World Cup from seven to 24 teams and instead of a short tournament in December over three weeks in the summer – against the will of the Europeans. The Uefa reluctantly agreed to the participation of eight top clubs, Infantino would rather have twelve, which would bring in significantly more TV and sponsorship money.
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