The idea of a triennial men's World Cup is being reconsidered by Fifa officials, following the abandonment of plans for a biennial tournament.
The shift to a triennial event would require a significant overhaul of the global fixtures calendar.
The proposal is seen by some as reflecting Fifa President Gianni Infantino's desire to host the tournament more frequently.
Although it remains hypothetical, the concept is supported by some African and Asian nations, potentially increasing its chances of being realised if other stakeholders join in.
Fifa's potential shift to a triennial World Cup was revealed by The Guardian, which noted that the idea was first discussed behind closed doors earlier this year.
The decision to drop planning for biennial events came earlier in 2022.
Though a triennial event remains a possibility, implementing the proposal would require modifying numerous aspects of the calendar for both international and club competition.
Infantino's intentions were suggested by The Guardian's article, which stated that he hopes to remain Fifa's president for another decade, and he would presumably continue to prioritise increased tournament frequency during that time.
The Independent similarly noted that governing bodies outside of Europe and South America support the idea, with African and Asian nations cited as being most keen on the proposal.
ESPN published a detailed discussion of the potential consequences of the move, highlighting concerns that players could become overworked as a result of more frequent tournaments.
Additionally, FIFA's partners would have to be consulted on the potential financial impacts of alterations to the highly lucrative timing of World Cup broadcasts.
Discussions so far appear to have centred around the feasibility of the idea, with few concrete details regarding how a triennial World Cup would function.
The possibility of alterations to other major tournaments, including Confederation Cups and regional championships, may also arise.