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UEFA Rejects FIFA's Proposal for 64-Team World Cup in 2030
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has firmly dismissed FIFA's proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup, set to take place in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, to include 64 teams. Ceferin characterized the idea as “a bad idea,” emphasizing that it would not benefit the tournament or the qualification process.
FIFA had introduced the concept last month, citing the upcoming centenary of the World Cup as a reason for the expansion. The suggestion came from Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association, during a FIFA council meeting. FIFA acknowledged that the proposal was raised spontaneously and expressed its duty to evaluate all suggestions. However, Ceferin made it clear that UEFA would not endorse such a significant change.
“This proposal was even more surprising than it was for you,” Ceferin remarked. “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. I’m not supporting that idea. I don’t know where it came from, but it’s strange that we didn’t know anything before this proposal at the FIFA council.”
With UEFA set to send 16 teams to the 2026 World Cup, which will feature a 48-team format, the prospect of a 64-team inclusion raises concerns about an already complicated qualification process.
The 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, is expected to feature additional matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Looking ahead, Ceferin noted the possibility of Russia's return to international football, contingent on the cessation of the war in Ukraine. “When the war stops, they will be readmitted,” he stated, referring to the initial decision to ban Russia, which was made in collaboration with FIFA.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed hope for Russia's reinstatement in the football community when conditions allow. “We always have to use sport, and football in particular, to bring people together,” Infantino stated, highlighting the potential for football to foster dialogue amidst global tensions.
Ceferin’s remarks also addressed the ongoing discourse surrounding Israel's participation in UEFA events, particularly in light of calls for suspension related to the conflict in Gaza. When questioned about the contrasting approaches to Russia and Israel, Ceferin offered a succinct reply: “If you speak about football, you can see the rankings. If you speak about politics, don’t ask me.”
The recent election of Israel Football Association chairman Moshe Zuares to UEFA’s Executive Committee has sparked protests from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which condemned UEFA's actions and called for a cultural boycott of Israel. The BDS movement, advocating against Israel's policies towards Palestine, criticized UEFA for allegedly supporting acts they describe as ethnic cleansing and apartheid.
BDS representatives expressed their disillusionment with global football governance, stating, “Our hope has never been in the corrupt colonial powers governing world football, but in the growing number of fan clubs and teams raising ‘Red Card Israel’ banners in stadiums around the world.” They urged supporters to join in peaceful protests against Israel's participation in football matches.
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