Will the 2030 World Cup expand to 64 teams? What FIFA’s Infantino says
Summary
FIFA is considering expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament, following its recent expansion to 48 teams in 2026. FIFA President Gianni Infantino supports increased participation to help smaller countries improve and strengthen global football, but the idea has both supporters and opponents within the football community.Key Facts
- The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanded from the previous 32-team format.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the 48-team format has been a success and helped smaller football nations compete better.
- The proposal to expand the World Cup to 64 teams in 2030 will be reviewed by FIFA committees after the 2026 tournament.
- A 64-team World Cup might have 16 groups of 4 teams, followed by a 32-team knockout stage, increasing total matches to around 128.
- South America’s football group CONMEBOL strongly supports the expansion, seeing the 2030 centenary as a special chance to include more nations.
- The 2030 World Cup will be held in six countries across three continents, making it the most spread out tournament ever.
- Some European and Asian football officials, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, oppose the 64-team idea, saying it is too large.
- FIFA has not yet made any decision on the 64-team expansion but is open to considering proposals from its council members.
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