FIFA president Gianni Infantino has indicated the organisation is studying whether to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, with the 2030 tournament a potential starting point for the change.
The proposal remains under internal review and no decision has been taken, according to a New York Times report. It fits within FIFA’s broader push to open the tournament to more nations and grow its commercial reach.
The current edition of the World Cup already expanded to 48 teams, the largest field in the tournament’s history. That move drew criticism from some observers who argued it would dilute the quality of competition, while supporters said it gave more continents meaningful representation. Cape Verde’s qualification this cycle was held up as an example of smaller nations benefiting from the wider format.
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with symbolic opening matches also scheduled in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to mark the centenary of the first tournament, held in Uruguay in 1930.
A further expansion to 64 teams would more than double the current field. Critics of that scale of growth have pointed to fixture congestion, player welfare, and the risk of mismatches in the group stage. Supporters argue it would deepen football’s global footprint and broaden broadcasting and sponsorship revenues.
No timeline has been given for a final ruling on the proposal.
