The Ceferin Doctrine: How Europe is Shaping the Limits of Global Football

The defeat of the 64-team World Cup proposal is a clear victory for what could be called the “Ceferin Doctrine”: a philosophy championed by the UEFA President that seeks to impose limits on the expansion of global football in order to protect its quality and the primacy of European club competitions.
Since taking office, Aleksander Ceferin has consistently positioned himself as a guardian of football’s traditional structures. He was a leading opponent of the biennial World Cup, and he was the first and most powerful voice to publicly condemn the 64-team idea, calling it “bad” and warning of its damaging effects.
This doctrine has two main pillars. The first is the preservation of sporting quality. Ceferin argues that a diluted World Cup harms the entire football ecosystem. The second, and perhaps more critical, pillar is the protection of the European-centric football calendar, which is built around powerful club leagues and the Champions League. A massive, 128-match World Cup would encroach significantly on this calendar.
The success of this doctrine is evident in the outcome. The FIFA Council’s position, as reported by an insider, aligns perfectly with Ceferin’s views. His ability to build a coalition with other confederations, like Concacaf, has been key to translating his philosophy into FIFA policy.
The rejection of the 64-team plan shows that the Ceferin Doctrine is currently the dominant ideology in world football governance. It has successfully defined the limits of expansion, ensuring that the global game evolves in a way that aligns with the sporting and commercial interests of its most powerful continent.