FIFA is in talks with Qatari authorities about "scrapping the mandatory vaccination requirements for next year’s World Cup." The Gulf nation in June said that it "would require any fans wanting entry into next year’s tournament to be fully inoculated against the coronavirus, but has said nothing about the policy for players yet." But a source said that FIFA and Qatari officials are "discussing the possibility that fans, players and officials will be able to provide proof of having recovered from COVID-19 or produce negative tests" (AP, 10/4).
Meanwhile, a joint statement from UEFA and 10 European women's soccer leagues said that "staging a men's World Cup every two years would be 'profoundly detrimental' and 'fundamentally alter the course and development of the women's game.'" The statement, co-signed by England's Women's Super League, "lays out possible negative impacts of Fifa's plans" for a potential calendar change. The leagues are calling for an "open forum" to discuss proposals (BBC.com, 10/4).
