FIFA plans to expand World Cup to 64 teams
FIFA has unveiled plans to enlarge the World Cup to 64 teams, according to a confidential document circulated on Thursday, even as the governing body faces fierce resistance to its scheme to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors, reports BritPanorama.
The document, first reported by Martin Ziegler of The Times, reveals that football’s global authority issued a formal brief on 30 July seeking to explore expanding the competition beyond its already-agreed 48-team format, with ambitions to introduce the enlarged structure from the 2030 tournament onwards.
This revelation comes amid mounting turmoil over FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s push to create a commercial entity known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would allow outside investors to acquire a minority holding in the world’s most-watched sporting event.
Three of the sport’s most powerful confederations have now formally rejected the sell-off proposal. UEFA has gone furthest, stating it will boycott FIFA competitions, including the next World Cup, should the plans proceed. Concacaf, which governs football in North America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation have also voiced their opposition.
Despite this formidable coalition of resistance, Infantino shows no sign of tempering his appetite for sweeping reform. Even as opposition intensifies from confederations representing vast swathes of the global game, the FIFA president continues to press ahead with his vision for radical structural and commercial transformation of the sport’s flagship competition.
The brief calls for FIFA to “appoint an independent agency” tasked with assessing the viability of the expansion both from a commercial and broader footballing perspective. Its scope involves a thorough evaluation encompassing broadcasters, brands, leagues, clubs, media companies, and federations.
The document also states that the study “should test market appetite and system-wide consequences of this movement, including commercial spaces and risk of saturation.” Essentially, it specifies that the work should remain “a B2B focused study” rather than one centred on consumer or fan sentiment.
The timeline is notably brisk. Agency submissions are due by 7 August, with FIFA expected to select its preferred partner by 14 August. The completed analysis is then scheduled for delivery on 11 September — just eight days before a crucial vote on the broader commercial plans set for 19 September.
FIFA has pushed back against its critics, maintaining that “nobody is selling football” and insisting it will continue consultations despite what it described as “erroneous reporting in the media” ahead of the September vote. Behind the commercial venture stands an investor consortium led by Thrive Eternal, a firm founded by Joshua Kushner — brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The financial incentives for member associations are considerable. Infantino has outlined that those who back the proposal before the deadline stand to receive $40 million (£30 million), with early supporters gaining immediate access to an initial tranche of $20 million (£15 million).
The shifts in FIFA’s plans reflect not just an organisational ambition but a deeper rift in football’s governance, reinforcing how the allure of investment can clash with the integrity of the sport itself.
