Leaked document shows FIFA fast-tracking 64-team World Cup plan amid Infantino backlash
FIFA has initiated a fast-tracked review of a proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams, with the change being considered for implementation as early as 2030. The organisation has requested an independent assessment to be completed before September.
The matter emerged from a leaked FIFA document and arrives amid mounting controversy tied to a separate commercial investment proposal. Critics have raised concerns that enlarging the tournament could boost the future market value of broadcast and commercial rights. Opposition from several major football bodies has continued to grow as the debate intensifies.
FIFA’s accelerated timetable underlines the organisation’s push to evaluate the feasibility of a substantially larger World Cup field within a compact window. By asking for an outside appraisal by September, FIFA appears to be seeking an objective review to inform any decision on adopting a 64-team format for the men’s tournament as early as 2030. The request for independence of the assessment was set out in the document that leaked.
The leaked material has intensified scrutiny of FIFA’s simultaneous commercial investment proposal, which is being examined separately from the competition-format review. Observers and critics have suggested a link between potential expansion and the valuation of future rights sales, a point cited in public objections. That connection has become central to critics’ arguments as momentum against the proposals grows.
Opposition from major football bodies has been described as increasing, with federations and confederations voicing concerns about the implications of both expansion and the commercial plan. Those bodies have questioned how a larger tournament might affect competition balance, scheduling, and the broader international calendar, issues that underpin their resistance. The leaked document has therefore become a focal point for stakeholders seeking clarity on both the sporting and commercial consequences.
FIFA’s request for an independent review sets a clear deadline to inform stakeholders ahead of key decision-making moments later in the year. Whether the accelerated study will resolve the controversies surrounding the investment proposal and the suggested expansion remains a central question for members and observers alike.
The speed of the review and the surrounding disputes mean the debate over a 64-team World Cup and the linked commercial proposal is likely to remain prominent through the coming months, with the independent assessment due before September expected to shape the next phase of discussions.