La Liga President Javier Tebas Slams FIFA's 64-Team World Cup Plan Ahead of 2030 Tournament
La Liga president Javier Tebas has strongly opposed FIFA's proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams. He believes the move will increase fixture congestion, harm domestic leagues, and put more pressure on clubs and players.
July 22, 2026: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are set to jointly host the historic 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking the tournament's centenary. To celebrate the occasion, FIFA has begun discussions about expanding the competition to 64 teams, a proposal that has sparked strong reactions across the football world. One of the biggest critics of the idea is La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has described the proposal as "irresponsible" and warned that it could seriously damage domestic football.
In an interview with the renowned Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas openly criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino and questioned his leadership. According to Tebas, Infantino has led world football for nearly a decade, but the system under his administration has major flaws. He added that Infantino's era in football is now nearing its end and argued that FIFA's recent decisions have not been made in the best interests of the sport.
Tebas Warns of the Impact on Domestic Football
Tebas believes that FIFA's increasing focus on expanding international competitions is putting domestic football at risk. He said football is much bigger than the World Cup and warned that organizing a larger tournament for just over a month could have long-term consequences for leagues around the world. According to him, domestic competitions are the foundation of football, creating jobs for millions of people, while only a small number of players get the chance to participate in the World Cup.
La Liga president Javier Tebas accused FIFA of "destroying the football industry" through the expansion of international competitions.#FIFAWorldCuphttps://t.co/KUvVu2DIgj
— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) July 21, 2026
The La Liga chief also expressed concern over the growing number of international fixtures. He argued that football's schedule is already too crowded and that adding more matches would place even greater physical demands on players. Instead of expanding the World Cup, Tebas believes FIFA should focus on reducing the number of international matches and protecting domestic leagues, clubs, and players.
Earlier this year, Infantino publicly raised the possibility of expanding the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams during the tournament's opening discussions. The proposal is still under consideration and has not yet been officially approved. The centenary World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will each host one match as part of the celebrations marking 100 years since the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.
Tebas concluded by saying that FIFA continues to make major decisions without properly considering their impact on domestic football. He stressed that national leagues are what keep the sport alive throughout the year and should receive greater protection. In his view, expanding the World Cup and adding more international fixtures would only increase pressure on players, clubs, and leagues, making the proposal an irresponsible step for the future of football.
