European women's soccer leagues warn against FIFA WCup plan
NYON, Switzerland (AP) â Womenâs soccer leagues across Europe joined UEFA on Monday in criticizing FIFA plans for biennial menâs and womenâs World Cups, claiming both would threaten how the womenâs game is developing.
Leagues in England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden said staging a menâs World Cup every two years will âhamper the visibility and growthâ of womenâs soccer.
They also suggest a biennial Womenâs World Cup â a goal often stated by FIFA at the 2019 tournament in France â could even harm womenâs soccer before it is matured in less wealthy soccer nations.
The European statement warned âonly those leading nations with strong foundations have the capacity and resource levels to make it viable to compete so regularly.â
That claim contradicts a key argument in FIFAâs push for doubling the number of World Cups it organizes â that it will increase opportunity for nations which rarely qualify in the traditional four-year cycles.
The UEFA-coordinated statement calls for FIFA to run more inclusive talks on changing soccerâs balance of international competitions.
âThe fast-paced nature of the (so far) very selective consultation process and all-but agreed proposals have not allowed a careful reflection on what is in the best interests of the future development of womenâs football,â the European officials said, warning of âpossible irreversible consequences such a change might entail.â
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports