Carragher immediately rejects FIFA request after secret World Cup meeting

Jamie Carragher turned down FIFA's request to publicly support the idea of holding the World Cup every two years rather than the traditional four, following a secret meeting. The Sky Sports pundit revealed he had spoken with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now FIFA's chief of global football development, as well as a number of ex‑players about the proposed overhaul.

This summer's tournament was staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with European champions Spain lifting the trophy for the first time in 16 years. Luis de la Fuente's side beat Argentina 1-0 in the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal.

The next World Cup is scheduled for 2030, with Morocco, Portugal and holders Spain set to jointly host the tournament. However, former Liverpool defender Carragher has revealed that discussions have already taken place about shifting the competition to a more regular cycle.

Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher said he had taken part in discussions about the idea but didn't want to take it further. He admitted he was stunned when the organiser later messaged him asking him to publicly back the plan - a request he rejected immediately.

Carragher said: "I had a little chat with Arsene Wenger. He was getting involved with FIFA and it was all around this World Cup being every two years. He said, 'I'd like you to come on this other call with other ex players and we're going to chat about the ideas going forward'. I'm like, 'Brilliant, amazing'.

"We get on this Zoom and it wasn't just English players. It was like [Javier] Mascherano, there were foreign players from all over the world. They're basically talking about the pros of a World Cup every two years. I'm just listening, asking questions. I don't like the idea.

"We finish this Zoom. I haven't said whether I don't like it or it shouldn't happen, I'm just chatting with these ex players. And the guy who was organising the Zoom, then text me and said, 'Okay, can you put this out?' - like supporting it. I was like, 'No, no, no'.

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"Just because I came on the Zoom... I don't agree with and I don't want it. I think it's rubbish. This feeling of 'Once you're in here with us and you're on this Zoom, we're all these ex players and we're in.

"That was my insight into it with Wenger and Infantino above him, with getting all these ex players in and like, 'This makes us look okay'. Half of these ex players, they don't care. From that, I was like, 'I'm not having this at all'."

Plans for the proposal have not gathered momentum, though changes to the tournament were introduced for the first time this summer, with the 2026 edition expanding to 48 teams and adding an extra knockout round.

Further reports suggest FIFA are considering pushing that even further, with a potential increase to 64 teams by the time the 2030 showpiece - the 100th anniversary of the World Cup arrives.

Both UEFA and CONCACAF oppose the idea, but CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez remains firmly in favour. The 2030 World Cup, co‑hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, will also stage matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark the centenary.