A proposal for a 64-team World Cup has been met with a fierce internal backlash at FIFA, revealing a significant rift between the ambitions of some confederations and the governing body’s core leadership. Despite President Gianni Infantino’s recent meeting with proponents of the idea, the plan is considered dead on arrival due to overwhelming opposition from within the FIFA Council.
The proposal was formally presented by a South American delegation in New York, who argued for a larger, more inclusive tournament to celebrate the World Cup’s centenary in 2030. For their confederation, Conmebol, the expansion would be a landmark achievement, dramatically increasing their presence at the finals.
However, the backlash from inside FIFA has been swift and decisive. Sources have confirmed that the plan is deeply unpopular within the council, with a strong consensus that it would “damage the World Cup.” The fears are twofold: a decline in the quality of play and a significant risk to the tournament’s successful business model.
This internal sentiment has been amplified by public criticism from some of the most powerful figures in football. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani, both FIFA VPs, have strongly condemned the proposal. Their united front signals that the resistance is not isolated but is a coordinated stance by major stakeholders.
While Infantino’s meeting fulfilled a diplomatic duty, the political reality is that the internal backlash is too strong to ignore. The FIFA Council is not even scheduled to discuss the matter, a clear sign that the organization has already made up its mind against this radical expansion.
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