MONTREAL - FIFA will push for its members to adopt the world anti-doping code in time for the World Cup next month, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency said Sunday.

If the code is adopted at FIFA's congress before the June 9 start of the tournament in Germany, the world's top soccer stars would be subject to two-year suspensions for serious doping violations instead of the lighter bans under FIFA rules.

WADA head Dick Pound said Sunday that soccer's world governing body has informed him that it would work to accept the code in time for the World Cup.

"The great thing about FIFA being onside is that it's the biggest, most important sport in the world," Pound said after two days of WADA meetings. "The World Cup is the only thing that rivals Olympic audiences.

"It's a tremendously strong message."

WADA and FIFA have been working out the details since last month, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland found FIFA was not in compliance with WADA's standards on eight points, including its penalties for failed drug tests.

Pound said seven of the eight points can be approved at a FIFA executive meeting and the last at a FIFA congress in Munich in the week leading up to the World Cup.

The two sides have been at odds for two years, with FIFA preferring a six-month minimum ban and to judge each case on its individual circumstances.