FIFA launches 64-team World Cup review amid private equity backlash
FIFA launched a 15-day consultation on expanding the Men's World Cup to 64 teams starting in 2030, with a decision targeted for Aug. 14. The move comes amid massive rejection of Infantino's $20 billion private equity deal by UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC, and follows the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro.
FIFA distributed a research brief on Thursday titled "Potential expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams" with a 15-day consultation window and an Aug. 14 decision deadline, according to ESPN's reporting. The timeline is compressed: agency proposals are due Aug. 7, with full analysis delivery scheduled for Sept. 11.
The Aug. 14 decision date lands one month before Infantino's Sept. 19 deadline for the sport's 211 member associations to approve his plan to sell a controlling stake in FIFA's competition subsidiary to private investors, per the reporting. The privatization scheme involves selling a minority stake to investors including Thrive Eternal, a fund founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, according to ESPN.
UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC have all rejected the privatization proposal. UEFA has stated it intends to boycott FIFA competitions if the deal is approved, per ESPN's reporting. The AFC called for an "urgent review" of FIFA's governance framework, stating: "This is not the first occasion where major stakeholders have been confronted with significant initiatives after the direction of travel appears to have already been determined."
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser, announced his resignation on Friday morning, calling the proposal "a bad deal for football," according to ESPN. UEFA highlighted the threat of bigger and more frequent tournaments as a key concern if private equity had influence over their running.
The 2026 Men's World Cup, won by Spain in July, was the first 48-team tournament format. Expansion from 48 to 64 teams had previously been rejected privately by senior FIFA figures, per ESPN's reporting. FIFA has stated separately that "nobody is selling football," implying the privatization plan is being mischaracterized by opponents.
The brief does not clarify what metrics an independent agency study would use to assess the viability of 64-team expansion, nor does it detail FIFA's contingency governance if major confederations follow through on boycott threats during active competitions.
UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC have all rejected Infantino's privatization proposal; UEFA intends to boycott FIFA competitions if the project proceeds.
FIFA's compressed consultation window on World Cup expansion collides with the Sept. 19 private equity deadline, forcing a decision before member associations have voted on the broader privatization plan. Watch whether major confederations negotiate conditions for withdrawing boycott threats, or whether they proceed with withdrawal if the deal advances.
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Single-source report. As published, only ESPN had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
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