FIFA criticized for 48-team World Cup expansion

World football’s governing body FIFA on Tuesday reached a unanimous vote to change the format of the World Cup starting with the 2026 tournament.

ZURICH, Switzerland (Kurdistan24) – World football’s governing body FIFA on Tuesday reached a unanimous vote to change the format of the World Cup starting with the 2026 tournament.

The governing body’s council held a vote in Zurich and decided to include 48 teams instead of the familiar 32. 

The change was met with mixed emotions as several top European clubs expressed their dissatisfaction with the “political” decision. 

Soon after the vote, the European Club Association (ECA) which represents top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich released a statement disapproving the new format. 

“The [ECA] reiterates that it is in principle not in favour of an expanded World Cup,” the statement read. 

“We understand that this decision has been taken based on political reasons rather than sporting ones and under considerable political pressure, something ECA believes is regrettable,” the statement continued. 

The ECA added the vote was “questionable” and rushed considering the format wouldn’t be applied for another nine years. 

“We fail to see the merits to changing the current format of 32 that has proven to be the perfect formula from all perspectives,” the statement concluded. 

There will now be 80 matches played instead of 64 in previous tournaments with 16 groups of three.

Regarding the change, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated the tournament would now be more inclusive.

“It is the future,” he said. “We have to look at football [as] more than just Europe and South America.”

After a corruption scandal, which led to the removal of several FIFA officials including former president Sepp Blatter, Infantino was elected as the organization’s new leader. 

 

Editing by Ava Homa