Concacaf President Victor Montagliani Opposes 64-Team World Cup Proposal
In the ever-evolving world of international soccer, the idea of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams has sparked a heated debate among the sport’s top officials. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has joined a chorus of voices opposing the proposal put forth by CONMEBOL leader Alejandro Domínguez. The suggestion to expand the World Cup from its traditional 32 participants to a whopping 64 has been met with skepticism and concern from various corners of the soccer world.
Domínguez introduced this ambitious proposal during an online meeting of FIFA’s ruling council, arguing that a larger tournament could bring more excitement and opportunities to the global stage. However, Montagliani, speaking to ESPN, expressed his reservations about such a drastic change.
“At Concacaf, we’ve shown that we are open to change by supporting the Women’s World Cup expansion and the continuous evolution of our Confederation’s men’s and women’s national team and club events,” Montagliani stated. “I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players.”
It’s worth noting that FIFA is already set to test a new 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This expansion is already a significant shift from the traditional format, and many believe it should be given a chance to prove its worth before considering further changes.
Montagliani’s concerns are echoed by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who has also voiced his opposition to the 64-team proposal. Čeferin labeled the idea as a “bad idea,” emphasizing that it could negatively impact both the World Cup itself and the qualifiers leading up to it. “I think it’s a bad idea — it’s not a good idea for the World Cup itself and it’s not a good idea for our qualifiers as well,” he said. “So, I am 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.”
The skepticism doesn’t stop there. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has also weighed in, warning that such rapid growth could lead to chaos. “If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” Salman remarked at the 35th AFC Congress. “But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
As the soccer world prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first to feature 48 teams, the debate over further expansion continues to simmer. The tournament will see teams from around the globe compete for the coveted trophy in a format that has never been tested before. This expansion is already a significant step, and many believe it should be given a chance to prove its worth before considering further changes.
In summary, the proposal to expand the World Cup to 64 teams has been met with significant opposition from key figures in the soccer world. While the idea of a larger tournament may seem appealing on the surface, the potential consequences for the sport’s ecosystem have raised concerns. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the soccer community will be watching closely to see how the new 48-team format unfolds and whether it can deliver on its promise of a more inclusive and exciting tournament.
- Concacaf president Victor Montagliani opposes 64-team World Cup proposal.
- UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin calls the idea a “bad idea.”
- AFC president Sheikh Salman warns of potential chaos with rapid expansion.
- 2026 World Cup will feature a new 48-team format.
Originally Written by: Lizzy Becherano
