UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has strongly criticized the proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, calling it “a bad idea” from both an organizational and sporting standpoint. Speaking to the press on Thursday, Ceferin expressed his concerns about the plan, as reported by FlashScore.
The idea was presented on March 5 by Uruguayan FA President Ignacio Alonso during the latest FIFA Council meeting. It is part of efforts to mark the centenary of the World Cup, which was first held in Uruguay in 1930. FIFA described the proposal as “spontaneous” and stated it had the “duty to analyze it,” but did not provide a stance from President Gianni Infantino.
It’s important to note that the men’s World Cup will already expand from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2026, with the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The 2030 edition is already shaping up to be logistically challenging, as it will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with three opening matches taking place in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Ceferin argued that increasing the number of teams to 64 would not enhance the World Cup and could harm the European qualifiers. He also expressed frustration that the proposal was introduced at the FIFA Council without prior discussion. This criticism comes amid ongoing tensions between UEFA and FIFA, particularly after FIFA announced the launch of a new 32-team Club World Cup, scheduled for summer 2025.
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Additionally, Ceferin referenced a previous attempt to hold the World Cup every two years, a Saudi-backed proposal from 2021 that FIFA ultimately abandoned. He emphasized that such significant changes should be discussed seriously and transparently, rather than being introduced as last-minute suggestions.
