FIFA has successfully demonstrated a new, consensus-driven model of governance by shutting down the 64-team World Cup proposal, a move that has avoided the kind of divisive political crisis that has plagued the organization in the past. The decision was not a top-down edict, but the result of a clear and overwhelming consensus among its key stakeholders.
In previous eras, such a bold proposal might have been pushed through by a powerful president, leading to public feuds and political instability. However, the process this time was different. The proposal from South America was heard, but it was ultimately judged by the collective will of the global football community.
The key to this consensus model was the alignment between the FIFA Council’s internal position and the public stance of influential confederation heads. An inside source confirmed the “overwhelming feeling” against the plan within the council, while figures like Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani articulated this same position to the world.
This created a unified front that made the outcome inevitable and politically stable. There was no room for a protracted fight because the decision was so clearly backed by a majority. It allowed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to preside over a resolution rather than having to dictate one.
This successful navigation of a potentially controversial issue is a positive sign for FIFA’s reformed governance structures. It shows that the organization is capable of building consensus and making difficult decisions without descending into political warfare, a crucial step in maintaining its credibility on the world stage.
