The Zurich Consensus: Global Football Rejects 64-Team World Cup

A firm consensus has emerged from Zurich, the heart of FIFA’s power base, to reject the notion of a 64-team World Cup. Despite a formal pitch made to President Gianni Infantino in New York, the global football community, represented by the FIFA Council, has made its position clear: the tournament will not be expanding beyond 48 teams.
The pitch came from a delegation of South American leaders, who advocated for a larger, more inclusive centenary tournament in 2030. Their vision was one that would greatly benefit their 10-member confederation, Conmebol.
However, this regional ambition has failed to translate into global support. An inside source has confirmed that the FIFA Council is “overwhelmingly” against the plan. This is not just a European position, but a widespread sentiment that a 64-team format would be detrimental to the sport’s premier event.
This Zurich consensus has been reinforced by public statements from the heads of other major confederations. UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf’s Victor Montagliani have both spoken out against the proposal, demonstrating a united front among key stakeholders.
While FIFA’s official line is to listen to all proposals, the unofficial reality is that a decision has already been made. The global football community has weighed the pros and cons and has come to the collective conclusion that a 64-team World Cup is a risk not worth taking.