UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has firmly rejected the proposal to expand the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament, describing it as “a bad idea” during UEFA’s congress in Belgrade. The statement comes in response to a suggestion from Uruguayan soccer federation head Ignacio Alonso at the FIFA Council meeting in March.
“I think it’s not a good idea for the World Cup itself, and it’s not a good idea for our qualifiers as well,” Ceferin stated. “I’m not supporting that idea. I don’t know where it came from. It’s strange that we didn’t know anything before this proposal at the FIFA Council.”
The World Cup is already set to expand from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This upcoming expansion has already raised concerns about match quality, player welfare, and tournament logistics. A further increase to 64 teams would mean that nearly one-third of FIFA’s member associations would qualify for the finals.
The 2030 World Cup will feature an unprecedented format spanning three continents. Portugal, Spain, and Morocco will serve as the main hosts, while Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will host three matches to commemorate the centenary of the inaugural 1930 World Cup held in Uruguay. This arrangement has already drawn criticism for its environmental impact due to extensive travel requirements.
Football experts worry that continued expansion could dilute the tournament’s prestige and competitive balance. Former players and coaches have expressed concerns that including more teams with significant skill disparities could lead to more one-sided matches and diminish the tournament’s overall quality.
FIFA’s consideration of the 64-team proposal aligns with its ongoing strategy to increase global participation, but critics argue this comes at the expense of sporting integrity. The decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia has further fueled debate about the governing body’s priorities.
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