In what many will see as a victory for sporting integrity, the proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams has been soundly defeated within FIFA’s corridors of power. The decision to reject the plan, championed by South American football federations, prioritizes the competitive nature of the tournament over the political appeal of mass inclusivity.
The push for expansion was formally presented to FIFA President Gianni Infantino by a Conmebol delegation in New York. Their argument centered on creating a grander, more open centenary tournament. However, this vision clashed with a fundamental principle of elite competition: that a place in the finals should be hard-won and prestigious.
Inside FIFA, the concept of a 64-team tournament was met with alarms. A source confirmed that the FIFA Council, the ultimate arbiter of the tournament’s format, was united in its opposition. The core objection was that such an expansion would fatally undermine the quality of the event, introducing a slew of mismatches that would betray the spirit of a “World Cup.”
This principled stand was publicly articulated by leaders like UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin, who warned that the change would devalue the entire qualifying process. His position, shared by other confederation heads, framed the debate not as one of numbers, but as a defense of the tournament’s very soul.
By rejecting the proposal, FIFA has sent a powerful message. It has affirmed that the World Cup is, first and foremost, a showcase of sporting excellence. In the battle between inclusivity and integrity, integrity has won the day.