Football: DFB President Neuendorf Stands Firm Against Expanded 2030 World Cup
Expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams encounters opposition from DFB President Neuendorf. - Expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams met with firm opposition from DFB Executive, Neuendorf.
Talks of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition have stirred a heated debate, with the German Football Association (DFB) President, Bernd Neuendorf, voicing his strong opposition. In a bold move, Neuendorf openly dismissed the proposal, citing potential repercussions on leagues and players.
"We won't back this idea," Neuendorf asserted, speaking to the German Press Agency. The proposal, initially thrown into the mix by Ignacio Alonso in March, piqued interest and may be taken up for discussion at the pending FIFA Council meeting.
The Council finds itself taken aback by Alonso's initiative. As per FIFA statutes, the Council, spearheaded by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, must address all proposals from its members. The Council meeting is viewed as a precursor to the general assembly, which will be held in Asunción, Paraguay, next Thursday.
The 2026 World Cup will mark the first time it's held with 48 teams instead of the conventional 32. The 2030 World Cup hosts include Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, as well as opening matches in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. It seems Alonso is eyeing more matches within his home country.
Neuendorf foresees a significant impact on national leagues if the tournament phase were extended. "Adding more teams would only aggravate the situation," the 63-year-old DFB President warned. "It's an enormous physical toll on the players, and I don't believe it's fair."
Controversy surrounds the proposal, with some advocating for a larger tournament to commemorate the World Cup's 100th anniversary. However, it faces opposition from influential figures in the football community, like Aleksander Čeferin, president of UEFA.
As the debate rages on, many speculate whether FIFA will stick with the 48-team format or opt for a further expansion. For now, it appears Kicker's home country is keeping their cards close to their chest.
- If the FIFA World Cup is expanded from 48 to 64 teams for the 2030 edition, EC countries, including Germany, may face potential repercussions on their employment policy, particularly in football leagues, as DFB President Neuendorf warned.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the FIFA Council will reportedly discuss the proposal to expand the World Cup, as it falls under their purview according to the FIFA statutes.
- Ignacio Alonso, who initially proposed the expansion, seems to be focused on securing additional matches within his home country, if the proposal is approved by the FIFA Council.
- Albanian football club KF Tirana's President, Ilir D late, believes the 2030 World Cup expansion to 64 teams could provide an opportunity for his country to participate in the tournament, illustrating the widespread interest in the proposal.
- Despite the controversial debate over whether expanding the World Cup to 64 teams would be fair to players and national leagues, influential figures in the football community, such as Aleksander Čeferin of UEFA, have voiced their opposition to the idea.
