Majority of FIFPRO players against World Cup changes

Seventy five per cent of players want the World Cup to remain an event played every four years, according to a new survey.

FIFA is proposing to cut the gap between its showpiece tournaments to two years as part of wider reforms of the international match calendar.

However, a survey of more than 1,000 male players covering six continents and more than 70 nationalities represents the most significant indication yet of footballers' opposition to those proposals.

The survey, conducted by world players' union FIFPRO and national player unions around the world in October and November last year, found 77 per cent of players in both Europe and Asia supported the status quo, dropping to 63 per cent in the Americas.

Forty nine per cent of African players favoured four-yearly World Cups, with the remainder split between playing the tournament every two or three years.

FIFPRO did add though that "a demand exists, particularly in smaller and medium-sized markets, to further develop and strengthen national team competitions".

"This is in line with FIFPRO's position on encouraging investment into regional competitions, based on the requirements of the local market," a statement from the union read.

Eighty one per cent of players ranked either their domestic league or the World Cup, in its current four-year cycle, as their favourite competition.

It also found that only 21 per cent of players believe their voice is respected and that their well-being is adequately considered in the context of international football governance.

FIFPRO general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said: "The player survey shows most footballers around the world have a clear preference to play the World Cup every four years.

"At the same time, the results demonstrate the