The FIFA World Cup is hands-down the biggest competition in world football,
and perhaps also the most interesting. So interesting that we often wish that the
tournament came around more often than just once every 4 years.
But then, why can’t it happen more frequently? Why does the FIFA World
Cup only take place once every 4 years? Here are a few reasons.
1. It allows hosts enough time to prepare
Hosting the World Cup is a huge,
huge responsibility. You have to be fully prepared before opening your
doors to millions of supporters from around the world for a period of about a month.
Stadiums, transport systems, accommodation, tourist attractions, security, healthcare,
and other infrastructure have to be built or refurbished in preparation
for the footballing festival. And if the tournament were to happen every two years,
it won’t be enough time for the hosts to be fully prepared,
and we’d end up having a lot of below-par World Cup tournaments, and surely, nobody wants that.
2. The qualifiers
Remember that teams don’t just show up at the World Cup, they have to fight for
their place in each tournament, so qualifying games have to be played.
As of now, over 200 countries participate in the qualifiers each time, fighting for
just 31 spots – the 32nd spot being automatically granted to the hosts.
So, realistically, we actually won’t even be able to go through all the qualifying
games that need to be played in the limited international breaks we have in a season.
And don’t forget that the continental competitions also have to be held.
That, in fact, is another reason why the World Cup cannot be held every 2 years.
3. Continental competitions
Every continent has their own tournaments which also has to be held. The Africans have the AFCON,
the Asians have the AFC Asian Cup, the South Americans have the Copa America,
the Europeans have the Euros, and on and on.
Some of these tournaments are held once every 4 years like the Euros and the AFC Asian Cup,
while some others are held every 2 years like the AFCON.
But all these tournaments are perfectly planned such that all are played a year
or two before and after the World Cup year, but never in the same year with it.
So, if the World Cup and the continental competitions were to be held every other
year alternatively, it means that players would never get any rest. Ever. They would
be playing all year long, every single year, and that, most definitely, is not healthy.
And that leads us to our next point.
4. Injuries
As things currently are, players are already complaining about their schedules; they need
more rest. And that is one of the reasons the Super League was strongly opposed, and also why
many players and managers are not exactly big fans of the recently introduced UEFA Nations League.
So, putting that into consideration, it would just be totally inconsiderate to
make the World Cup happen more frequently in spite of the complaints of the players. So,
it seems just about perfect that the competition is held every 4 years.
5. Value
In some ways, having the World Cup played every 4 years adds to its value. The average footballer
would play in 3 World Cup tournaments in their career. 4 if you’re lucky. A player
appearing in 5 World Cup tournaments in their playing career is an absolute rarity.
So, the knowledge that they only get 3 to 4 shots at it in their entire career makes
players value the tournament even more. They give their all to it each time and try so hard to win
it cos they know this is not a case where they can just say “we go again next year”.
If it’s played every year or every other year,
best believe, the FIFA World Cup lose some value with time.
So, yeah, we all want to be watching the biggest football competition every summer,
but you have to admit that having it once every 4 years is just perfect.
And you know what else is perfect? We’ll have the World Cup on our screens yet again in just
about a month. We’re really excited about that and we’re sure you are, too. So, get in the
comments and tell us what your predictions are for Qatar 2022. Who will win the 2022 World Cup?
Who will be the dark horses? Who will be the shock exit? Bombard us with your predictions.
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