UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin has expressed strong opposition to a proposal to double the 2030 World Cup from 32 teams to 64.

The proposal, made by Uruguayan football official, Ignacio Alonso at last month’s FIFA Council meeting, was met with surprise and skepticism by Ceferin.

Speaking at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade on Thursday, Ceferin stated that he believes the proposal is a “bad idea” that would not benefit the World Cup or the qualifying process.

“I think it’s a bad idea—it’s not a good idea for the World Cup itself and it’s not a good idea for our qualifiers as well.”

Ceferin’s opposition to the proposal is not surprising, given his history of resisting changes to the World Cup format. He has previously spoken out against Saudi Arabia’s proposal to hold the World Cup every two years, and has also expressed concerns about the potential consequences of expanding the tournament.

The 2030 World Cup is already set to be a unique event, with six countries – Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain – sharing hosting duties. However, the majority of the games will be held in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with the South American countries hosting only one game each in honor of the centenary of the first World Cup, which was held in Uruguay in 1930.

Alonso’s proposal was reportedly made in an effort to increase the number of games held in South America during the 2030 tournament. However, Ceferin’s opposition to the idea suggests that it is unlikely to gain traction.

FIFA has stated that it will consider Alonso’s proposal, but Ceferin’s comments suggest that there may be significant resistance to the idea from within the European football community. As the president of UEFA, Ceferin’s views carry significant weight, and his opposition to the proposal may ultimately prove decisive.