FIFA has initiated a consultation process for expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams, with a decision targeted for August 14. This move comes despite significant backlash against FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in major competitions to private investors.

The $20 billion sell-off proposal appears to be faltering after UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Soccer Federation (AFC) publicly rejected it. Adding to the opposition, Infantino's senior advisor resigned over the plan, deeming it "a bad deal for football." Despite this, FIFA distributed a research brief on Thursday exploring the implications of expanding from 48 to 64 teams, starting with the 2030 edition, and has set a tight 15-day deadline for a decision.

The document aims to appoint an independent agency to assess the impact of such an expansion. The proposed investor group was to be led by Thrive Eternal, a company founded by Joshua Kushner. UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if the project proceeds. The AFC has called for an urgent review of FIFA's governance, citing a lack of stakeholder consultation.