FIFA will consider expanding the World Cup to include 64 nations for the 2030 tournament, according to Gianni Infantino, the president of world football’s governing body. This potential expansion would add another 16 teams to the competition, which was already increased to 48 teams for the 2026 finals.
The 48-team format, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marked an increase from the 32-nation version that was in place from 1998 through 2022. Infantino described the 48-team expansion as “100 percent a success,” noting that teams from various continents performed well, with nine out of ten African teams reaching the knockout stage in the recent tournament.
Discussions regarding a further expansion for 2030 were held in September 2025, following a formal proposal from South American football leaders. Infantino confirmed that these talks would continue in relevant committees after the current summer tournament.
Rationale for Expansion
Infantino emphasized that the World Cup is intended “for the whole world, not just Europe and South America.” He stated that every nation should have the aspiration to participate in the tournament, highlighting the increasing quality of teams globally.
He suggested that providing smaller countries with the opportunity to compete in the World Cup offers an incentive for continued improvement. The FIFA president believes that the current 48-team format has demonstrated the high level of play across all participating teams.
The 2030 tournament is set to be hosted across six nations and three continents. Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay are scheduled to host one match each at the beginning of the competition. The remaining 101 games for a 48-team tournament will be split between Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
An expanded tournament could potentially allow Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to host an entire group each, rather than just a single match. This would align with the dream expressed by Alejandro Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL and a FIFA vice-president, who described a 64-team tournament in 2030 as his “dream” that would “unite the world, just once.”
Opposition and Concerns
Despite the support from some, the idea of a 64-team World Cup has faced opposition. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin dismissed the proposal as a “bad idea” in April, suggesting it could negatively impact both the tournament itself and Europe’s qualification process.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani echoed similar sentiments, calling it “not a great idea.” Concerns have also been raised that a 64-team tournament, which would involve more than a quarter of FIFA’s 210 men’s international sides, might diminish the significance of many regional qualification processes.
For instance, six of the ten CONMEBOL nations already qualify automatically for a 48-team finals, with an additional play-off spot. Critics also point to the increased number of games for players, who already face demanding schedules, as a potential negative consequence of further expansion.
Additionally, FIFA’s hosting rules stipulate that a continent can only stage the World Cup once every three editions. This means that South America, by hosting matches in 2030, would not be able to be a primary host again until at least 2042, having last been a primary host in 2014.
The proposal for a 64-team tournament was initially brought forward by Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso at a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025.
Previous Expansion and Future Outlook
The expansion to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup was a significant change from the previous format. FIFA had also previously considered a proposal to hold the World Cup every two years instead of four, but this alteration was ultimately shelved.
Infantino remains confident in his role as FIFA president and is expected to serve another term. The discussions surrounding the 64-team format are anticipated to continue after the conclusion of the current summer tournament.
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Source: nytimes.com
