Square Enix previously announced that it would be merging Final Fantasy worlds in Match and that would cut the number of FF XIV servers from 18 to 10. However, the feedback from the players forced Square Enix to rethink the whole idea.
Square Enix will be merging Final Fantasy XIV servers in March. Intended to improve player experience until the launch of FF14 version 2, players will be asked to select new world for their characters.
As you may already know, Final Fantasy XIV will launch the subscription based billing model this Friday. The free account holders will have to subscribe. The good news is that there is a discount until the release of Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.