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UEFA's president, who also serves as FIFA's Vice President was less than impressed with a propsed initiative
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has strongly criticised FIFA’s unexpected proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, calling it a “bad idea.”
The UEFA boss, who also serves as a FIFA vice president, expressed shock at the suggestion, which emerged during a recent FIFA Council meeting.
Ceferin rejects expansion plan, questions its origin
Speaking at a UEFA press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Ceferin openly dismissed the idea of increasing the tournament size beyond the 48-team format set to debut in 2026.
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According to him, adding 16 more teams would dilute the quality of the competition while also devaluing the qualification process.
He pointed out that an expanded 128-game format would disrupt the traditional tournament structure and create unnecessary scheduling conflicts. Ceferin was also particularly surprised that such a major proposal was introduced without prior discussions among key stakeholders.
The idea was reportedly put forward by a delegate from Uruguay, which is set to host one game in the 2030 tournament as part of its centenary celebration.
However, Ceferin questioned the true origin of the proposal, stating, “It is strange that we did not know anything before this proposal at the FIFA council. I don’t know where it came from.”
FIFA’s silence raises further concerns
Despite the controversy surrounding the proposal, FIFA president Gianni Infantino made no mention of the 64-team expansion during his keynote address to UEFA’s 55 member federations.
The silence from FIFA has only added to the confusion surrounding the proposal, with no clear roadmap for its consideration. Critics argue that FIFA’s tendency to expand competitions for financial gain could compromise the overall quality of the World Cup, making it a bloated and less competitive event.
As things stand, FIFA has provided no details on how or when the proposal will be formally evaluated, leaving the football world uncertain about the future of the tournament.
With FIFA’s annual congress scheduled for May 15 in Paraguay, it remains to be seen whether the organisation will address the concerns raised by Ceferin and other key football figures.
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