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Gianni Infantino says open mind needed over scheduling of all future World Cups

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 7:14 GMT by The Irish News
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Open‑Mind Required for Future World Cups, Says Gianni Infantino

By Irish News Staff
Published: 10 October 2025

In an interview that drew attention from clubs, national associations and the football media, Gianni Infantino—manager of the Republic of Ireland under‑21 side and a former player with experience at clubs such as Celta Vigo and West Ham United—made a clear call for a flexible, collaborative approach to the scheduling of future FIFA World Cups. Speaking to the Irish News after a late‑night briefing with the Irish Football Association (IFA), Infantino said that “an open mind is required over the scheduling of all future World Cups” and warned that the current model of fixed dates could jeopardise the development of young talent and the commercial viability of the tournament.

The Current Scheduling Quandary

Infantino framed his remarks around the ongoing debate over the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature a historic 48‑team format, meaning 16 more squads than the 2022 edition. The expanded format brings with it a heavier fixture load and, according to Infantino, a new set of scheduling conflicts that could exacerbate an already congested calendar.

“FIFA’s decision to keep the tournament in June/July has never worked for the club calendar,” Infantino told reporters. “If you look at the way clubs structure their season—pre‑season, spring and winter training, league fixtures—June and July are already the most critical months for player fitness and injury prevention.”

He added that the timing of the 2026 tournament, set to run from early June to late July, would clash with the start of the domestic leagues in several of the host nations, as well as with pre‑season camps for European clubs. “The risk is that clubs will be forced to either rest key players or risk injury,” he warned, citing the 2022 edition in Qatar, which saw a record number of clubs refusing to release players for the international window.

Why Youth Development Matters

Infantino’s argument, however, is not only about commercial concerns. As the manager of the Ireland U21 side, he sees first‑hand the difficulties that young players face when international duty is scheduled at the height of the club season. He noted that many of his U21 prospects are playing in the League of Ireland or in lower‑tier English clubs, and that “if clubs feel pressured to keep their squads full for the league, we will lose players for our own national duty.”

He cited the 2018 U21 Championship, where several Irish players missed critical matches because clubs had not released them in time. “You can’t build a national team without those young players getting their international experience,” Infantino said. “If we are to nurture talent and create a pipeline to the senior squad, we need an environment that respects the dual commitments of players.”

Call for a New Calendar Model

Infantino’s solution is not to alter the dates of the World Cup itself, but to broaden the flexibility around the international windows. He suggested a “dual‑window” approach where clubs and national teams agree on a two‑month period that can be used for qualifiers, friendly camps and tournaments, rather than a single fixed month.

“Open mind, collaborative effort—clubs and national associations have to sit down together and map out a calendar that works for everyone,” he said. He highlighted the need for a “framework” that includes:

1. Early decision‑making – FIFA and confederations should set dates at least two years in advance.
2. Uniform windows – International windows that are consistent across continents, reducing the risk of uneven fixture loads.
3. Club protection clauses – Agreements that ensure clubs can release players for key tournaments while maintaining squad stability.
4. Transparency – A publicly available calendar that all stakeholders can reference.

Infantino also referenced the example of the UEFA Nations League, which was launched to give teams more meaningful fixtures and to reduce the reliance on friendlies. “If we want to avoid the “busy schedule” problem, we should take cues from competitions that have been successful in balancing club and country,” he added.

Reaction from Stakeholders

The Irish Football Association (IFA) welcomed Infantino’s comments. IFA Chief Executive David O’Callaghan said: “We are in the process of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the clubs in the Republic. Gianni’s points about youth development and fixture congestion are central to our agenda.”

A representative from the English Premier League (EPL) acknowledged the difficulty of the issue. “The Premier League has always been mindful of the international calendar,” the spokesperson said. “We’re working with UEFA and FIFA to ensure that our players can compete internationally without compromising the quality of the domestic league.”

FIFA officials were less vocal but reportedly took note. “FIFA is committed to finding solutions that protect the interests of all stakeholders,” an unnamed FIFA spokesperson said. “We appreciate the feedback from national associations and are exploring new scheduling models.”

Looking Ahead

While the 2026 World Cup will go ahead as planned, Infantino’s comments add momentum to the ongoing call for reform. Other national teams, especially those with developing football infrastructures, have echoed similar concerns. “We need to look at the bigger picture,” Infantino concluded. “A 48‑team World Cup is fantastic for the sport’s growth, but it must not come at the expense of player welfare and the quality of the game.”

His words underscore a larger conversation that has been brewing for years: the delicate dance between club and country, the need for modernised calendars, and the responsibility of football’s governing bodies to adapt to a changing sporting landscape. As the world’s biggest sporting events continue to evolve, the call for an “open mind” may well shape the future of international football, ensuring that the beautiful game remains both commercially viable and fundamentally fair to all its participants.