The plan triggered widespread opposition from football associations and stakeholders, with critics arguing that member associations had not been adequately consulted before the proposal was presented. "It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA member associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently," the organisation said. Following the meeting, FIFA's leadership publicly reaffirmed its backing for Infantino, who has served as president since 2016. Several European football associations have withdrawn their support for the FIFA president following the controversy. The group additionally questioned FIFA's proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, arguing that stakeholders had been given only four weeks to assess its implications.