Brazil and Argentina are among the South American countries that have confirmed that they will not participate in the World Cup every two years.
Arsene Wenger, the legendary former Arsenal manager, is now the head of FIFA’s global football development team and leads the task of changing the tournament to every 24 months.
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The potential move has been met with backlash, and now CONMEBOL, South American football’s governing body, has announced that its 10 members are against making it every two years.
A statement from them said: “There are no reasons, merits or justifications for the change that FIFA is promoting.
“In light of this, the ten countries that make up CONMEBOL confirm that they will not participate in the biennial World Cup.
“The project in question turns its back on nearly 100 years of global football tradition, ignoring the history of one of the most important sporting events on the planet.
“CONMEBOL supports the currently in effect World Cup, with its terms and ranking systems, because it has proven to be a successful model, based on sporting excellence that rewards effort, talent and planned work.”
UEFA, which hosts the European Championship every four years, has announced that it will stand against the proposal “until common sense prevails and it is abandoned”.
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And just last week, the European leagues rejected FIFA’s plan to reshape the international calendar.
The Premier League and the EFL are members of the European leagues.
Its managing director, Jackco Swart, said Wenger’s plans had brought about a “sharp shift” in the balance between the club and the national football team in both sporting and economic value.
FIFA is due to hold a world summit in December with the aim of reaching agreement on the controversial plans.
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