FIFA to examine 64-team World Cup expansion ahead of 2030 tournament

By Arjun Sharma — 12 July 2026 — 4 min read

Plans for a 64-team World Cup are set to be assessed following the 2026 tournament, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino indicating that the event should be inclusive for the entire world. The proposal for an expanded tournament was initially put forward last year, and Infantino suggests that the success of the current 48-team format warrants an examination of how a 64-team World Cup could operate.

Infantino stated that these issues will be examined after the upcoming World Cup. He emphasised the importance of organising the tournament for the whole world, not just Europe and South America, allowing every nation to aspire to participate. He highlighted that the quality of teams globally is consistently improving, and providing smaller countries with a chance to participate offers an incentive for continued development.

The FIFA council approved the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, with this format taking effect from the 2026 finals. Infantino described the first 48-team World Cup as a significant success, noting the progression of nine out of ten African teams to the knockout stages. He pointed out that only five African teams participated in the previous World Cup, underscoring the importance of including all teams and providing them with this opportunity.

Discussions on Further Expansion

A formal proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by the South American governing body Conmebol in April 2025. However, no decision has been reached on this matter. The 2030 edition is primarily set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with the initial three matches scheduled to be held in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the competition’s centenary. Uruguay hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

Infantino confirmed that discussions regarding the proposed 64-team format would take place in relevant committees after the current summer tournament. He reiterated that the tournament is intended for the entire world, not exclusively for Europe and South America. He also mentioned that the expansion to 48 teams for the current edition was a complete success.

The idea of a 64-team tournament was first brought up by Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso during a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025. Later, in November 2025, Alejandro Dominguez, president of Conmebol and a FIFA vice-president, expressed his desire for a 64-team tournament in 2030, believing it would unite the world.

Challenges and Opposition

The expansion to 48 teams for the 2022 finals was considered, but it was determined that Qatar would not be able to host a tournament of that scale independently. The increasing size of the World Cup presents challenges for host nations. The current tournament is being held across three countries, and the 2030 edition will involve matches in six countries: Morocco, Portugal, Spain, along with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay as centenary hosts.

Among those who have voiced opposition to the 64-team proposal is UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who described it as a negative idea for both the tournament itself and the qualification process. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa concurred, suggesting that further expansion could lead to chaos. Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, also expressed concerns, stating that the suggestion “doesn’t feel right” and could harm the broader football ecosystem.

Despite these concerns, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, indicated that the United States might consider bidding to host the 2038 World Cup and would be capable of managing it even if expanded to 64 teams. FIFA‘s official stance is to discuss expansion ideas with stakeholders and consider all proposals from council members. The ultimate decision rests with the FIFA council, though there are no immediate indications of this happening soon.

When Infantino was first elected in 2016, his manifesto included increasing the World Cup size from 32 to 40 teams. Within a year, this was raised to 48 and approved by the FIFA council, effective from the 2026 finals. A larger World Cup is seen as beneficial for Infantino, as it offers more countries the chance to participate and generates more revenue for member associations.

A 64-team World Cup would mean nearly a third of the 211 FIFA-affiliated countries would qualify, potentially rendering many regional qualification processes less significant. Six of the ten Conmebol nations already automatically qualify for a 48-team finals, with an additional play-off spot available. The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Source: bbc.com

Arjun Sharma

Sports Reporter