Is a 64-team World Cup inevitable?

The Athletic FC Podcast

The Athletic

Sports, Soccer,, Premier League, Champions League, World Cup

4.0 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 September 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

FIFA have discussed making the 2030 World Cup a 64-team tournament.

So who actually wants it and could it really happen?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Adam Crafton, Phil Hay and Felipe Cardenas

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ticket please. Thank you. Tickets please, madam. Sure, let me just... Oh, this jacket's got so many pockets.
0:08.4	No rush. Got it on eBay. Vintage, one of a kind. I just need your ticket, madam. Couldn't find it anywhere. Then, Tadda! eBay! Total bargain.
0:18.0	That's nice. Oh, thank you. But I still need to see a ticket.
0:22.8	Oh, yeah, sure.
0:24.8	With great deals on things you love,
0:26.8	you can't help but say when it's eBay.
0:28.8	Things people love.
0:30.5	Golf.
0:31.7	Quiet, calm, polite.
0:35.3	Well, forget all that, because this is the Rider Cup.
0:38.5	It turns rivals into teammates and teammates into brothers.
0:43.1	It's chance, it's fancy dress, it's pressure.
0:47.1	It's glory, it's chaos, it's wild, and there's no golf like it.
0:52.1	Enjoy every moment of the Rider Cup.
0:54.3	Exclusively live on Sky Sports.
0:56.5	Available to stream flexibly with no fuss on now.
1:00.3	Hello, Sweaterweather.
1:02.4	Bring on cozy duvet days, crisp air and crunchy leaves.
1:07.2	Out, out is out.
1:09.5	And the original pumpkin spice latte is in.
1:13.3	Handcrafted with our signature espresso and seasonal pumpkin flavors
1:17.4	and topped with whipped cream, cinnamon and nutmeg.
	...

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