UEFA President Ceferin slams 64-team World Cup proposal

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has taken a firm stance against the proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams in 2030.

He expressed frustration at FIFA for failing to inform UEFA about this suggestion ahead of its public unveiling.

Last month, FIFA announced it would entertain the idea of a larger tournament to commemorate the World Cup's centenary, a suggestion initially presented by Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association, during a council meeting.

This ambitious expansion aims to celebrate football's rich history but, according to Ceferin, raises more questions than it answers.

“This proposal that was made was even more surprising than it was for you,” Ceferin stated, addressing the media after UEFA’s annual congress in Belgrade.

“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. So I’m not supporting that idea. I don’t know where it came from, but, strangely, we didn’t know anything before this proposal at the FIFA council.”

Under the current format, UEFA is slated to send 16 teams to the 2026 World Cup, which will first implement a 48-team structure. An increase to 64 teams in 2030 would dilute the qualifying process, a move that has not garnered enthusiasm within the organization.

The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with commemorative matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. This edition could potentially see Russia's return to international football, pending a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.