India coach Stimac supports FIFA’s biennial World Cup plan

Igor Stimac. Pic/AFP

India football team head coach Igor Stimac on Tuesday supported FIFA's plan to hold the World Cup every two years, but said he would want to know if the world body is looking for "more money" for itself with such a move.

FIFA revealed its detailed plan last month, after meeting with retired players, to redraft the calendar of international football competitions with biennial World Cups for men and women at the heart. The proposal was strongly backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. "As India coach, I would like that [World Cup every two years] to happen. I will support it because it might benefit India in the nearer future than expected [to be able to play in the World Cup]," Stimac said during a virtual interaction after India's SAFF Championships title.

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"Football needs to be developed in each and every part of the world and to do so we need to open the World Cups to countries which have never participated in them."

He, however, said the plan will not benefit the weaker football countries if the main reason behind it is financial gains of FIFA. "But if the reason [behind the plan] is primarily money for the organisation [FIFA], I don't see any benefits. I would like to hear good explanations about what is behind this move," said Stimac.

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