The logistical implications of potentially expanding the World Cup to 64 teams “are obvious,” but the financial ramifications “could prove even more significant,” according to Shine & Church of REUTERS. By making qualification easier for many of the game’s biggest nations, a 64-team tournament “could reduce the commercial value of qualifying competitions while increasing the importance of FIFA’s own flagship event.” If broadcasters place less value on qualifying campaigns, soccer’s six regional confederations “could become increasingly dependent on FIFA’s own distributions, potentially shifting more financial influence -- and power -- towards the global governing body.” Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin have both “voiced opposition” to further expansion. Shine & Church noted a bigger tournament would “require more stadiums, more hotels, more transport and, most likely, more time.” An expanded World Cup would also “place greater strain on an already congested international calendar and increase pressure on domestic leagues.” Player welfare concerns “would also intensify,” with more matches adding to the workload of elite players. And while a 64-team tournament would give more nations access to football’s biggest stage, it could also “reignite debate over competitive balance, tournament length, fan costs and whether the World Cup risks losing some of the exclusivity that has long underpinned its appeal” (REUTERS, 7/21).
WE DON’T WANT CHANGE: In London, Tom Morgan noted La Liga President Javier Tebas on Tuesday “launched his attack” on FIFA and President Gianni Infantino amid suggestions about expanding to 64 teams. Tebas said, “The football industry is not just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup. It is national competitions that support this sport.” Tebas: “They are destroying the football industry. … We need fewer national teams and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don’t realise, they decide irresponsibly.” Morgan noted Infantino has been a “controversial figure” during his 10 years as FIFA president, but he is poised to be re-elected for a fourth term in March, although Tebas believes that Infantino “could have been brought down” by the USMNT F Folarin Balogun affair. Tebas: “The suspension of the American player’s disqualification is something of absolute gravity. They were lucky because Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have been created that could have cost Infantino his job” (London TELEGRAPH, 7/21).
