SINGAPORE – FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasizes how to propose organization World Cup biennial can be a game changer for smaller countries like Singapore.
Arriving in Singapore on Sunday, Infantino went to Jalan Besar Stadium – home of Singaporean football – to see the stadium reopen, which also includes the laying of a new artificial pitch. The upgrade, valued at US$2.5 million, is supported by the FIFA Transition Program.
The inauguration coincided with FAS’ continued effort to provide more detailed outlines of the “Unleash The Roar” project, designed to improve football at all levels in Singapore with the goal of achieving qualifying for the 2034 World Cup.
Once there, the prospects of a country like Singapore will be bolstered by an increase in the number of competing teams – with FIFA planning to expand the tournament to 48 teams from the current 32 in 2026.
But Infantino believes that holding the competition every two years, instead of the current four years between tournaments, would help further.
“It’s actually quite impressive that for many years the World Cup, known as the ‘World’ Cup, was really an exclusive circle of very few countries,” he said, when asked by ESPN that the change What that could mean for smaller countries like Singapore.
“It’s really not the ‘World’ Cup. It’s the cup of the best teams, historically the best teams in Europe and South America. The chances for others to participate are very low. Of course, increasing the number of teams might change that a bit but still, when you have to wait four years, it’s a very long time.
“It is a dream for Singapore, to be able to have a chance – a real chance – to play the best in the world.”
Later on Sunday night, Infantino was also present at the opening ceremony AFF Suzuki Cup 2020.
Despite its status as Southeast Asia’s premier international tournament, the Suzuki Cup did not feature the best players as it is not in FIFA’s international window – meaning clubs are not obliged to Roll out the called players.
While the addition of international windows could cause more disturbance in club football, Infantino believes a different approach can be taken.
He added: “Instead of more international windows, we should structure it into longer windows.
