Fifa has shown a “complete disregard” for the football community with its World Cup and Club World Cup plans, says a statement from Spain’s La Liga.
Football’s world governing body said on Tuesday the 2026 World Cup will feature 104 games, up from 64, and unveiled plans for a 32-team Club World Cup.
Representatives of players union Fifpro and the Professional Footballers Association have also criticised Fifa’s plans, which were agreed on Tuesday at its council meeting in Rwanda.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will see the number of participating nations increase from 32 to 48.
Fifa had proposed a format of 16 groups of three but has now opted for 12 groups of four, followed by a new last-32 round.
The move expands the competition from its projected 80 matches to 104 and also means teams will have to play eight games to win the tournament, compared to seven at the 2022 World Cup.