La Liga opposes World Cup format change

La Liga has strongly criticized FIFA's decision to increase the number of matches in the 2026 World Cup and approve a 32-team Club World Cup. They believe world football's highest governing body has 'completely ignored' the importance of domestic leagues.

Ahead of the FIFA Congress in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, the organization said on Tuesday that there will be a total of 104 matches in the 2026 World Cup. However, since 1998, there have been a total of 64 matches in the World Cup held with 32 teams. The 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the first with 48 teams. FIFA initially planned to hold 80 matches there. They added 24 more matches there.

FIFA also approved the 32-team Club World Cup on the same day. The competition will be held every four years from June 2025. Later, La Liga expressed its position against these changes by FIFA.

"FIFA continues its misconduct of making unilateral decisions on the world football calendar, showing a complete disregard for the importance of domestic leagues and the football community."

La Liga also claimed that FIFA had not consulted the leagues about the changes. "These decisions, they say, have not taken into account the sporting and financial impact on countries' national leagues, clubs and players...FIFA only considers a small group of clubs and players."

La Liga also said in a statement that they and all other league authorities in the World League Forum (WLF), the body representing professional football leagues, will analyze FIFA's decisions and take the most appropriate next steps.

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