UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has dismissed the idea of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition, calling it “a bad idea.”
Speaking at UEFA’s congress in Belgrade on Thursday, Ceferin reacted to the proposal made by Uruguayan Football Federation chief Ignacio Alonso during a FIFA Council meeting in March.
FIFA has acknowledged the suggestion, stating that it has “a duty to analyse” the possibility.
However, Ceferin strongly opposed the move, saying, “I think it’s a bad idea. It’s not good for the World Cup itself, and it’s not good for our qualifiers as well.”
The 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will already feature an expanded 48-team format, up from the traditional 32 teams.
The potential for further expansion raises concerns about tournament quality, scheduling, and the overall impact on international competitions.
