Sir Bobby said the idea, presented by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, would devalue the biggest single-sport event on the globe.

Mr Blatter's proposals include holding the finals every even-numbered year instead of every four years, with the World Cup qualifiers taking place in odd-numbered years.

Sepp Blatter: Present system old fashioned

The controversial move, if agreed, would herald a complete change of the international competition but Charlton, a medal winner with England in 1966, has already condemned the proposed changes.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Charlton said: "I don't see how they could do that because there wouldn't be time to qualify.

"My own personal feeling is that every four years is often enough because it's something to look forward to.

"You have to wait for it and it increases the whole value of it. I just hope it's not based on finance.

"When it comes from Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, you take it seriously because he won't have said it lightly. But my own feeling is that it wouldn't have the same attraction, and that would be very sad."

Out-of-date

Blatter believes the current format, with the World Cup played every four years, is out-of-date and threatened by a proposed European Super League of clubs.

He said: "I want a football world championship every two years. Then the national teams will get the rankings they deserve.

"The existing four-yearly tournament is out-of-date. It dates from the 1930s when teams chugged from one continent to another on ships."

Blatter's plan would see national teams take part in continental tournaments to qualify for the World Cup finals.

It would mean the current European Championships format would have to be scrapped, and perhaps become a qualifying competition.

Any changes could not come into force before the year 2006 - when England are bidding to stage the tournament.

Director of the England 2006 campaign, Alec McGivan, and Football Association spokesman Steve Double both gave a cautious reaction to the proposals.

McGivan said: "It is an interesting idea but it would need to be looked at very carefully."

Double added: "It's a very interesting proposal, but we would need to see the details before being able to comment fully.