Following a meeting of its Council in the Paraguayan city of Luque, CONMEBOL confirmed it had discussed the proposal to reduce the gap between each edition of the FIFA World Cup from four years to two years, and re-affirmed its opposition to the idea.

"There are no reasons, benefits or justification for the change promoted by FIFA," CONMEBOL said.

"In view of this, the ten countries that make up CONMEBOL confirm that they will not participate in a World Cup organised every two years."

The men's FIFA World Cup has been held every four years since its inaugural edition in 1930 - apart from the gap from 1938 to 1950 because of World War II.

Europe and South America have provided the finalists of every edition of the tournament, and CONMEBOL added it opposed breaking with tradition.

"The project in question turns its back on almost 100 years of world football tradition, ignoring the history of one of the most important sporting events on the planet," the continental governing body said.

"CONMEBOL supports the World Cup currently in force, with its terms and classification systems, because it has proven to be a successful model, based on sporting excellence and that rewards effort, talent and planned work."

A feasibility study on staging a biennial World Cup was approved at FIFA's 71^st Congress this May, following a proposal from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation which passed by 166 votes to 22.

However, it has proved highly contentious across world football.

The African Football Confederation has openly backed the plans, along with several countries from Asia.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, Asian Football Confederation and Oceania Football Confederation have all welcomed the opening of a consultation process.

FIFA's chief of global football development Arsène Wenger has also been one of the biggest proponents of a biennial World Cup.

In contrast, European governing body UEFA and CONMEBOL have opposed the move, with the two organisations revealing last month they would expand their "existing cooperation" by opening a joint office in London.

At last weekend's Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly, the acting President of the body Robin Mitchell expressed concerns over a biennial World Cup, which he said would lead to a more congested global sporting calendar and pose a threat to other sporting events.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has also expressed reservations.

Earlier in October, the FIFA Council approved a global summit on the international calendar, including the proposed biennial World Cup, to be held on December 20 this year.

However, this will not be an Extraordinary Congress that would have the power to enact a new calendar.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was optimistic that "we can reach an agreement."