AFC President Warns 64-Team World Cup Plans Could Cause Chaos

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has firmly opposed the proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, arguing it would lead to 'chaos.' This response comes after South American football's governing body, CONMEBOL, suggested the expansion as a one-time event for the tournament's centenary. Salman emphasized that the 2030 World Cup is already set to feature 48 teams, making any further changes unnecessary. He warned that keeping the door open for changes could lead to demands for even larger expansions, potentially to 132 teams. Despite his firm stance, he acknowledged the possibility of discussing changes for tournaments after 2034. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin also criticized the expansion idea, while FIFA indicated it would analyze the proposal thoroughly.