Reactions from European and Asian authorities
FIFA is currently assessing the prospect of expanding the World Cup from its current 48‑team format to as many as 64 teams for the 2030 edition, a move that would mark the tournament’s centenary with a record‑breaking participation.
The idea originated with South American governing body CONMEBOL, which argues that a larger field would give more nations the chance to celebrate the milestone on a global stage.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, was the first edition to adopt the 48‑team structure, stretching the competition to 104 matches over five weeks and setting a new benchmark for scale.
To evaluate the ramifications of a further expansion, FIFA has pledged to appoint an independent agency by August 14 to conduct a feasibility study, with findings expected by September 11.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has openly rejected the proposal, describing a 64‑team format as "not a good idea" and warning that it could dilute the tournament’s prestige.
His counterpart at the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, has echoed similar reservations, questioning the long‑term impact on competitive balance and tournament logistics.
The forthcoming analysis will examine a range of factors, including the risk of competition dilution, calendar congestion, operational complexity and the potential for market saturation.
Financial modelling will also explore how ticket sales, sponsorship agreements and media‑rights revenues might shift under a larger tournament footprint.
On the logistical side, the 2030 World Cup is slated to be co‑hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, while additional matches are planned in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, creating a distributed schedule across three continents.
The proposal has also attracted criticism over FIFA’s plan to create a $20‑billion subsidiary to manage World Cup operations, a move that has prompted a boycott of FIFA events by UEFA.