JFF President Michael Ricketts Backs Proposed 64-Team FIFA World Cup

Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts has endorsed FIFA’s review of a proposal to increase the men’s World Cup field to 64 nations.

This summer’s competition in the United States, Mexico and Canada is the first involving 48 countries. The finals had featured 32 teams at every edition since 1998, when Jamaica made its sole appearance.

At that tournament, the Reggae Boyz placed third in Group H. They finished below Argentina and fellow first-time qualifiers Croatia, but above Japan, another debuting nation.

Spain, Portugal and Morocco will stage most matches at the next World Cup. Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will also host games as part of the competition’s centenary observance.

Using six host countries would provide the facilities needed for a larger field while creating additional earning potential. FIFA President Gianni Infantino nevertheless maintains that the organisation operates on a non-profit basis.

Infantino projects that the tournament this summer will produce between US$16 billion, approximately J$2.5 trillion, and US$17 billion, or about J$2.6 trillion.

Asked whether FIFA intends to approve a 64-team format, Infantino said the idea would be “examined and discussed”. The proposal was initially raised in March 2025.

“We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it’s getting higher and higher everywhere in the world,” Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport. “If you don’t give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving.”

Ricketts spoke with the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday afternoon shortly after watching European champions Spain defeat tournament favourites France 2-0 in commanding fashion.

He approached that outcome practically and connected its unpredictability with Jamaica’s unsuccessful qualification bid. The Reggae Boyz ended the Concacaf qualifying stage behind Curacao before losing the Intercontinental play-off final against DR Congo.

Despite that disappointment, Ricketts said Jamaica must concentrate on developing for the future. The possibility that later World Cups could offer additional berths has also encouraged him.

“Today, France lost 2-0, and the most ardent Spain supporter could never predict that they could beat France so convincingly,” he told the Observer. “But that’s the nature of the sport. The breaks just didn’t go our way throughout the qualifying round. Hence we did not qualify.”

The France result illustrated football’s uncertainty. In a closely contested qualifying section, an unexpected score can undo a team’s campaign, while a broader World Cup field could reduce the damage caused by one poor performance after years of organised development.

Ricketts rejected the suggestion that expansion would merely relieve criticism directed at the JFF following the failures of the previous campaign. Instead, he views more available places as vital to Jamaica’s attempt to return to football’s premier international event.

“Once the numbers increase I’m going to support it, because it gives us a greater chance,” he said. “Qualifying for a World Cup is not easy, it’s not easy, and things have to go your way.

“You just have to be at your very best, and it has to be best practices from a technical perspective, from an administrative perspective, from a refereeing perspective. You just have to get everything right, and that didn’t happen for us.”

Jamaica fell one point short during the Concacaf phase. Questions were raised about the standard of the team’s displays under then head coach Steve McClaren, particularly a 2-0 defeat away to Curacao, a 1-1 result against Trinidad and Tobago and the concluding goalless draw with Curacao in Kingston.

Controversy then surrounded the decisive goal in the play-off against DR Congo. Axel Tuanzebe scored from a corner late in extra time, but the play prompted debate over whether he had handled the ball.

Many observers considered that campaign Jamaica’s strongest route back to the World Cup. The Reggae Boyz entered as the highest-ranked side in their group and avoided the region’s three host nations, which had already secured places at the finals.

However, Concacaf was using a revised qualification system. Another enlargement of the World Cup could produce further structural adjustments when the next qualifying programme begins in September 2027.

The JFF is already preparing with that possibility in mind. A younger group was recruited for the Unity Cup in May, while the federation continues looking for a permanent head coach.

“We are trying to rebuild,” Ricketts said. “We have a set of youngsters who already are showing the level of loyalty and commitment that when you get that from these players, you’re bound to get good results. So that’s where we are right now.”

Ricketts may find support among the heads of Concacaf’s other 40 federations. Concacaf President Victor Montagliani, however, opposes the proposed increase.

“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told ESPN in April 2025.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin took a similar position during that month, calling the concept a “bad idea”.

For the JFF and comparable developing associations, participation in a 64-country finals could unlock more resources for building football within their territories. The same change could create difficulties for established football nations, particularly those containing Europe’s leading domestic competitions.

Clubs in Europe have repeatedly objected to the continued growth of the match calendar, and a bigger World Cup would intensify those concerns. The principal issue is the physical well-being of players.

Under the 32-team model, 64 matches were completed in approximately 32 days. The current tournament expanded that schedule to 104 fixtures across 39 days.

Leading footballers may therefore reach international camps already physically depleted. Research from FIFA and FIFPRO, the worldwide players’ union, indicates that consecutive seasons allowing fewer than four full weeks of rest were followed by marked increases in muscle injuries and severe ligament damage.

Introducing another 16 teams would also require additional stadiums and more long-distance travel. Frequent movement between climates and time zones can seriously interfere with players’ sleeping patterns and immune function.

There are substantial arguments on each side. Critics contend that present-day football already demands too many matches, while supporters note that the sport now serves a worldwide audience and must account for the ambitions and continued development of emerging nations.

FIFA’s 77th General Congress is scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Although the presidential election will be its main business, the disputed proposal to expand the World Cup is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.