Jamie Carragher has revealed he turned down a FIFA request to publicly endorse the idea of staging the World Cup every two years, following a confidential Zoom call with former players and officials. The ex-Liverpool defender described the proposal as "rubbish" and said he was "not having this at all" after being asked to support it.
Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher said he participated in a meeting with Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, and other former players, including Javier Mascherano, to discuss the pros of a biennial World Cup. He said he listened and asked questions but did not reveal his opposition during the call.
FIFA's request after the call
After the Zoom call ended, the organiser texted Carragher asking him to publicly support the plan. Carragher declined immediately, saying, "Just because I came on the Zoom... I don't agree with and I don't want it. I think it's rubbish." He added that the call felt like an attempt to make the idea look acceptable by involving ex-players.
The 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, saw Spain win the trophy for the first time in 16 years, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final. The next tournament is scheduled for 2030, hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with matches also in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to mark the centenary.
Expansion proposals
The 2026 edition already expanded to 48 teams with an additional knockout round. Reports suggest FIFA is considering expanding to 64 teams by 2030. Both UEFA and CONCACAF oppose the biennial idea, but CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez supports it.
