FIFA to Consider Expanding 2030 World Cup to 64 Teams

By Bethel Manase

Zurich, Switzerland — FIFA is set to consider a proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, a move that would make it the largest tournament in the competition’s history.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the proposal will be reviewed by the organization’s governing bodies following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although no official decision has been made, the proposal has already generated debate across the global football community. Supporters argue that a larger tournament would create more opportunities for nations from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Caribbean to compete on football’s biggest stage. Critics, however, warn that further expansion could dilute the quality of competition, increase travel demands and place additional strain on players and host nations.

The proposal comes just months before the first-ever 48-team World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. FIFA expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams in a bid to make the competition more inclusive and globally representative.

Infantino has previously defended expansion plans, describing the new format as “100 percent a success” and arguing that it provides opportunities for countries that historically struggled to qualify for the tournament.

“The World Cup is for the whole world, not just Europe and South America,” Infantino said, adding that broader participation would contribute to football development by giving emerging nations a realistic path to the global showpiece.

The 2030 World Cup is already set to be historic as it marks the centenary of the tournament, which was first held in Uruguay in 1930. To commemorate the milestone, opening matches will be staged in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay before the tournament moves to Morocco, Portugal and Spain for the remainder of the competition.

Should FIFA approve the proposal, the tournament would feature significantly more matches than ever before, creating fresh commercial opportunities while also presenting major logistical challenges for organizers. Additional stadiums, accommodation facilities, transport infrastructure and security arrangements would be required to support an event of such scale.

Football analysts remain divided on the idea. While some believe a 64-team World Cup would accelerate the growth of the game by exposing emerging nations to elite competition, others fear it could lengthen the tournament, increase player fatigue and diminish the prestige traditionally associated with qualification.

FIFA has emphasized that no decision has been made and that the proposal will undergo a formal review through the body’s decision-making structures before any changes are adopted.