Football divided: FIFA faces backlash over plan to expand 2030 World Cup to 64 teams
Plans to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams are facing pushback from top football officials. The proposal, led by South America’s CONMEBOL, aims to mark the tournament’s 100th anniversary but has drawn criticism from CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and UEFA’s Aleksander Čeferin.
Montagliani called the idea premature, stating, “We haven’t even tried the 48-team format yet—jumping to 64 is unnecessary.”
Čeferin previously dismissed it as a “bad idea,” while AFC’s Sheikh Salman warned it could lead to “chaos,” joking, “Next, someone will demand 132 teams!”
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, will debut the 48-team format.
FIFA’s congress in May may debate CONMEBOL’s proposal, which would double matches to 128. Critics argue bloating the tournament risks player fatigue and diluted quality.
With the 2030 event already spanning six countries (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco), skepticism grows over logistics.
As football’s power struggle continues, one question remains: Is bigger always better?
