KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: World football federation FIFA is planning an online summit of all 211 FA heads on September 30 in the new phase of its consultation about how best to reform the international match calendar which is supposed to balance the needs of clubs and national teams.

A FIFA statement concerning the process does not mention the increasingly contentious proposal to stage the World Cup every two years instead of the traditional four years.

FIFA said:

FIFA has reached out to its member associations and other stakeholders (representatives of the players, clubs, leagues, confederations) marking the beginning of a new phase of consultation around the International Match Calendar for women and men, set to expire at the end of 2023 and 2024 respectively.

There is a broad consensus within the game that the International Match Calendar should be reformed and improved.Following invitations to stakeholders, including all confederations, at the beginning of September, discussions are being organised in the coming weeks.

On 15 September 2021, FIFA also invited its member associations to a first online summit on 30 September 2021. This is one of several opportunities to establish a constructive and open debate, at a global and regional level, over the coming months and FIFA is looking forward to it.As this is a football project, in which the global interests of football should come first, this process started with players and coaches from all over the world.

Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) have been established under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis.

The debate will also involve fans from around the globe.FIFA is committed to being a forum for meaningful debate by engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including fans and looks forward to discussions on the sustainable growth of football in all regions of the world, at all levels

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