South American teams will not play in a biennial World Cup, CONMEBOL says

South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL says its members will not play in a biennial World Cup.

World governing body FIFA has proposed to hold a World Cup every two years as part of a revamped football calendar.

But after a council meeting, CONMEBOL said “there are no reasons, benefits or justification” for the plans.

“The 10 countries that make up CONMEBOL confirm that they will not participate in a World Cup organised every two years,” the statement added.

The World Cup has been held every four years since 1930, except during World War II, and Conmebol’s members include five-time winners Brazil and two-time winners Argentina.

FIFA will hold a summit in December with president Gianni Infantino still hoping to find consensus on the plans.

CAF, the African governing body, has given its backing, but European governing body UEFA and Europe’s major leagues have declared their opposition.

CAF had said: “Taking into account the serious financial challenges, lack of infrastructure and facilities, African football could probably be the biggest beneficiary of a World Cup every two years.”

The African body hopes that any boost in revenue would ultimately filter down to its member associations which could then use the funds to develop the sport on the continent.

Meanwhile, after Conmebol’s meeting in Paraguay on Wednesday, it said the World Cup proposal “turns its back on almost 100 years of world football tradition, ignoring the history of one of the most important sporting events on the planet”.

The current system, it added, “has proven to be a successful model” that “rewards effort, talent and planned work”.