Now Reading: UEFA Strongly Rejects Proposal to Expand 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 Teams, Citing Concerns Over Tournament Integrity and Quality
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UEFA Strongly Rejects Proposal to Expand 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 Teams, Citing Concerns Over Tournament Integrity and Quality
UEFA Strongly Rejects Proposal to Expand 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 Teams, Citing Concerns Over Tournament Integrity and Quality
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has strongly opposed a proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, with its President, Aleksander Čeferin, labeling the idea a “bad decision” that could negatively impact the tournament’s quality and logistics.
Speaking at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade, Čeferin expressed frustration over FIFA’s consideration of a further expansion beyond the already approved 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“Football at the highest level must maintain its quality, and adding more teams risks diluting the competition. We must be careful not to prioritize commercial interests over the integrity of the game,” Čeferin stated.
The proposed 64-team format, if approved, would drastically alter the structure of the World Cup, requiring additional venues, longer schedules, and possibly reducing the competitive balance of the tournament.
UEFA sources indicated that European federations were not consulted before the proposal was floated, further fueling tensions between UEFA and FIFA. The governing body of European football has previously voiced concerns over FIFA’s rapid expansion initiatives, including the recent decision to extend the Club World Cup to 32 teams.
Critics argue that increasing the number of participating teams could lead to an oversaturated tournament, making it less exciting for fans and diminishing the significance of qualification. On the other hand, supporters of the proposal claim that a larger World Cup would allow more nations from underrepresented regions to compete on the global stage.
Football stakeholders around the world are now awaiting FIFA’s final decision, which could reshape the landscape of international football. UEFA has made it clear that it will push back against any decision that threatens the competitive integrity of the World Cup.
As debates continue, football fans and analysts remain divided on whether a 64-team World Cup is a necessary evolution or an unnecessary expansion that could diminish the essence of the beautiful game.
