The ghost of the failed biennial World Cup proposal looms large over FIFA’s rejection of a 64-team tournament. The lessons learned from that earlier, bruising political battle have clearly informed the organization’s approach this time, leading to a swift and unified shutdown of another controversial expansion plan.
Just a few years ago, FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, pushed hard for a World Cup every two years. That proposal was met with a massive and coordinated backlash, particularly from UEFA and Conmebol, who saw it as a threat to their own competitions and the global football calendar. The idea was ultimately abandoned after a divisive and damaging public fight.
This time, the roles were partially reversed, with Conmebol as the proponent of radical change. However, the key lesson FIFA appears to have learned is the importance of consensus. The biennial plan failed because it lacked broad support. Similarly, the 64-team plan was immediately recognized as lacking the necessary backing from key stakeholders like UEFA and Concacaf.
The swift public denunciations from figures like Aleksander Ceferin, combined with the clear internal opposition in the FIFA Council, showed that the organization is no longer willing to pursue ideas that do not have a strong consensus. It has learned that forcing through divisive proposals is a recipe for political turmoil.
The rejection of the 64-team World Cup is therefore a sign of a more cautious and politically astute FIFA. The ghost of the biennial failure has instilled a new respect for the power of the collective, ensuring that this latest “bad idea” was stopped before it could cause another rift in the football world.