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Infantino has suggested the possibility to additional cold-weather World Cups and Club World Cups, asserting that the sport should maintain a flexible outlook about shifting key competitions from the summer period.

Discussions Underway for Post-2030 Calendar

Discussions are under way about the post-2030 match timetable, a key area of concern because of heightened congestion from enlarged events. The global body established a task force to analyze the situation, while the international organization has created a challenge by granting the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia. This competition will probably be organized in colder seasons, following the Qatar model. Infantino indicated soccer must become accustomed to untying itself from the European summer.

“We're deep into detailed discussions, we are discussing all the time,” he said. “It's not just about one World Cup, it's a general reflection. Even in certain European nations summer months can be extremely warm.”

Improving the Match Schedule

Infantino was speaking at the European club organization annual meeting in Rome. He had expressed similar sentiments to the event's 900 delegates, remarking: “We should look into making global the worldwide football schedule.” The months of October and March were mentioned as “the months you can play everywhere.”

A major restructuring like this would generate controversy, even as FIFA's power to carry out its plans might face obstacles should an official protest against its imposition of the calendar, filed to the European Commission earlier by football leagues, results in formal action.

Growing the International Club Competition

Officials are examining approaches to grow the international club championship. A 48-team structure might be used in the future, potentially featuring preliminary qualification matches that reduces the total count to 32 teams. Infantino mentioned major proposals in his Rome speech, saying FIFA would “work to see how we can make this event bigger, improved further, with greater influence.”

Candidate Nations for Tournament

European and African countries are frontrunners to stage the 2029 event, set to happen in warmer months, although other contenders remain under evaluation. An early revisit to the United States might be considered and sources suggest China, which was scheduled to organize the competition in 2021 prior to coronavirus, continues to show interest.

Officials are thinking about organizing the club championship every two years post-2029. The Gulf state leads the race to organize the 2031 competition, a scenario that might prove easier to manage should the proposed changes is achieved with winter dates would become necessary.

Concerns About Domestic Games Abroad

Infantino expressed any permanent shift towards holding domestic competitions on other continents would be a significant danger. Recent developments saw approval given for games in America and Australia, stressing this approval was under unique circumstances. The organization's ultimate decision is essentially automatic, but Infantino appeared to suggest the idea caused discomfort.

“There exists a framework featuring matches at national level, across continents and worldwide,” he elaborated. “This system that developed football the premier athletic competition worldwide. Should we dismantle this structure, we endanger everything.”

Barcelona's Return to EFC

Among other developments at the EFC general assembly, was confirmation of Barcelona's return to the association, foreshadowed earlier by the club president Joan Laporta's presence at the gala meal. Barcelona withdrew from the organization post the unsuccessful breakaway league in 2021, which they championed together with European giants.

The EFC president Nasser al-Khelaifi humorously noted the renewed partnership was made official during an amicable discussion. Their readmission appears to dampen prospects on any return of the breakaway league project.