Iker Casillas demands FIFA ‘have to’ make World Cup rule change in time for 2030

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Former Spain international Iker Casillas has called on FIFA to make a change to the structure of the World Cup.

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup is coming to an end, albeit not as exciting an end as it could have been – had FIFA maintained that goal difference be the decisive factor for those level on points after the three games.

This time around, FIFA have instead opted to decide the final round of group stage matches on the basis of head-to-head results rather than goal difference, for the first time in World Cup history.

It is giving some nations the chance to progress into the Round of 32 for doing very little, and Casillas wants to see FIFA make a change to ensure only the best two teams from each group advance into the knockouts at the 2030 World Cup.

Head-to-head record is now the deciding factor in the group stages, not goal difference. What's your take on the rule change?

Goal difference had been used since 1970…

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Iker Casillas calls on FIFA to make the 2030 World Cup a 64-team competition

The winner of the 2010 World Cup took to X (previously known as Twitter) to demand that 64 nations take part in the 2030 World Cup, rather than the current amount of 48.

Casillas – who famously clashed with Jose Mourinho – wrote: “We have to go to 64 teams in the World Cup. This best 3rd place stuff doesn’t add up for me.”

Having 64 teams involved would ensure the Round of 32 is simply a collection of the best two performers from each group – and would nullify the need to tweak rules to find a bunch of nations who finished third to make up the numbers.

Casillas is spot on. FIFA have created a system where some nations are being rewarded for mediocrity, which is also surely going to make for a less entertaining Round of 32 where some sides clearly have no right to be there.

Having also caused widespread controversy with the introduction of the unprecedented hydration break at this World Cup too, FIFA certainly have room for improvement ahead of the 2030 World Cup.