UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has strongly criticized the proposed expansion of the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams. The idea, introduced unexpectedly during a FIFA council meeting by Ignacio Alonso, the president of Uruguay’s football association, has sparked significant concern within European football circles.
Ceferin expressed his dismay at the proposal during UEFA’s annual congress in Belgrade on April 3, 2025, revealing that he and his organization were caught completely off guard. He lamented the lack of communication, stating that the idea was introduced without any prior consultation with UEFA or its officials. “This proposal that was made was even more surprising than it was for you,” Ceferin remarked, underscoring his frustration with the lack of transparency surrounding the decision.
The proposal to expand the World Cup for its 100-year anniversary is a significant deviation from the current format. While the 2026 World Cup will see a historic increase to 48 teams, the leap to 64 teams raises concerns over the tournament’s quality and competitiveness. Ceferin argued that such an expansion would dilute the meaning of the World Cup and significantly alter the dynamics of qualifying, which he sees as an essential part of maintaining the tournament’s prestige.
In his address, Ceferin emphasized that UEFA does not support the idea. He pointed out that expanding the tournament could reduce the value of the qualifying process, making it less competitive and meaningful. “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,” he said. The UEFA president’s comments reflect broader concerns within European football that such an expansion could water down the integrity of the competition, both in terms of the on-field product and the way teams earn their place on the world’s biggest stage.
The proposal has also stirred tension between FIFA and UEFA, with the former defending its stance. FIFA argued that the idea came up spontaneously and that it had a responsibility to consider all proposals from its council members. However, the lack of prior consultation with key stakeholders like UEFA has only deepened the rift between the global and European governing bodies. The clash between FIFA and UEFA over the 64-team proposal is just one of many recent conflicts between the two organizations over the future direction of global football.
The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted jointly by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with some matches to be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. This arrangement aims to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the inaugural World Cup, which took place in Uruguay in 1930. Despite the exciting prospect of this milestone tournament, the proposal for a 64-team expansion threatens to overshadow the celebrations and stir further debate over the future of the World Cup.
In addition to the expanded World Cup, the 2026 tournament will mark a major shift in the competition’s structure, as it will feature 48 teams for the first time. While the shift to a larger World Cup field has already drawn mixed reactions, a further increase to 64 teams is seen by many as unnecessary and potentially harmful to the tournament’s integrity.
As the debate over the proposed expansion continues, it remains to be seen whether FIFA will proceed with the 64-team format or heed the concerns voiced by UEFA and other stakeholders. Whether tradition or spectacle ultimately wins out in shaping the 2030 World Cup will likely have long-lasting implications for the future of the competition.
