FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that the governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. Speaking to the Swiss news site Bluewin, Infantino stated that the proposal would be reviewed by the relevant FIFA committees following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. This development comes amid the ongoing inaugural tournament featuring 48 teams, a significant departure from the 32-team format that served as the standard from 1998 to 2022.
Infantino described the expansion to 48 teams as a tremendous success, arguing that the decision to include more nations was entirely justified. He highlighted the improved performance of smaller football nations, noting that teams from every continent have managed to score goals and secure points during the current tournament. By providing more opportunities for participation, FIFA aims to foster football development globally, preventing smaller nations from stagnating due to a lack of incentive or opportunity to compete on the world stage.
The proposal to increase the field to 64 teams has sparked significant debate, drawing strong support from South America. The idea is being championed by CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation. Officials argue that since 2030 marks the centenary of the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930, the tournament should be an inclusive and historic celebration. Leading football nations such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay have indicated their openness to the idea, with CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez emphasizing the unique nature of the centennial celebration.
However, the initiative faces stiff opposition from major football confederations in Europe and Asia. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has dismissed the expansion as a poor idea, citing concerns that a larger tournament would dilute the quality of competition and complicate the structure of qualification stages. Similarly, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has expressed clear disagreement. He warned that conceding to an expansion to 64 teams could open the door to further demands for even larger fields, potentially leading to operational chaos and an unmanageable international calendar.
Logistically, any such expansion would present immense challenges, particularly for the 2030 tournament. The event is already slated to be the most geographically dispersed in history, with matches planned across six countries and three continents, including host nations Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, alongside centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Critics argue that adding more teams would exacerbate existing issues regarding travel, player fatigue, and the strain on club schedules. While FIFA has confirmed that it will review the proposal submitted by its council members, the governing body has provided no definitive timeline for a decision. Ultimately, any changes to the format would require approval from the FIFA Council, and with intense pushback from powerful stakeholders, the path to a 64-team tournament remains highly uncertain.
