The silent majority of the football world has spoken through the FIFA Council, delivering a decisive verdict against expanding the World Cup to 64 teams. While the proponents of the idea were vocal, the council’s firm opposition reflects a broader, quieter consensus among the global football community that such a move would be a mistake.
The proposal for a 64-team tournament was championed by the South American confederation, Conmebol, which made a high-profile pitch to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Their arguments for inclusivity and a grander celebration were designed to appeal to a global audience.
However, the FIFA Council, composed of representatives from every confederation, serves as the collective voice of world football. According to an inside source, this body’s sentiment was “overwhelmingly” against the plan. This wasn’t just a European veto; it was a reflection of a global view that the World Cup’s quality and prestige are paramount.
This quiet, internal consensus is what ultimately matters more than any public campaign. While confederation heads like Aleksander Ceferin gave this view a public voice, the real power lay in the shared belief of the council members who represent nations, big and small, from across the planet.
The rejection of the 64-team plan is therefore a victory for this silent majority. It demonstrates that the governance structure of FIFA, for all its complexities, can function as a forum where the collective wisdom of the football world prevails over the ambitions of a single group.