FIFA advances plans for 64-team World Cup review despite private investment backlash - ESPN

FIFA has started a consultation process over an expansion of the men's World Cup to 64 teams, with documents seen by ESPN aiming for a decision by Aug. 14.

The cut-off date is a month before FIFA president Gianni Infantino's deadline for 211 member associations to green-light his plan to sell off a stake controlling FIFA major competitions.

The $20 billion sell-off plan unveiled by Infantino appears to be in ruins following statements by UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Soccer Federation (AFC) condemning and rejecting the proposal, before his senior adviser quit over it.

But despite widespread opposition to the attempt to sell off a stake in the World Cup to private investors, FIFA distributed a research brief titled «Potential expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams» on Thursday, with a timescale of just 15 days to reach a decision.

The 2026 men's World Cup, won by Spain earlier this month, was the first 48-team tournament and a further expansion to 64 teams had previously been rejected privately by senior FIFA figures.

But in the five-page document seen by ESPN, FIFA says it is «considering the strategic implications of a possible expansion of the FIFA World Cup beyond the current format.

»Therefore, FIFA wishes to appoint an independent agency to determine whether and how expanding the FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 participating teams, starting with the 2030 edition, would impact on the tournament proposition football ecosystem."

The document green-lit «research brief sharing» on July 30 with «agency proposal delivery on Aug. 7.»

A FIFA decision is scheduled to follow on Aug. 14 prior to the full analysis being delivered on Sept. 11 — eight days before Infantino's deadline for acceptance of his sell-off plan.

Infantino