La Liga President accuses FIFA of dismantling the soccer business

Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish football league, has levelled a scathing critique at FIFA, accusing the organisation of acting "irresponsibly" after it announced discussions about potentially expanding the World Cup to 64 teams in 2030, as revealed in an interview published on Tuesday in an Italian sports daily.

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Tebas also expressed his belief that FIFA president Gianni Infantino's tenure has run its course, stating that a "system that is fundamentally flawed" has enabled him to remain at the helm of football's global governing body for a decade, in comments made to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

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Tebas underscored that the football industry encompasses far more than just the World Cup, despite the tournament's significant importance, arguing that the focus on the event is having a detrimental impact on the broader sport.

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He warned that the prioritisation of the World Cup, which lasts for 40 days and involves only a minority of players, is "destroying the football industry" that generates tens of thousands of jobs, in a stark critique of FIFA's priorities.

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In June, Infantino mentioned the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams during the tournament's opening ceremony, with the 2030 edition set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, and also featuring matches in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.

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Tebas reiterated his concerns about the competition calendar, emphasising that the proposed expansion to a 64-team World Cup is misguided, and that "it is the domestic leagues that keep this sport alive".

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He advocated for a reduction in the number of national teams and improved protection for domestic football at all levels, lamenting that FIFA is "making decisions irresponsibly" without fully grasping the implications of its actions.