FIFA Considers Expanding World Cup to 64 Teams for 2030 Tournament

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the organization is seriously considering expanding the World Cup to 64 teams starting with the 2030 tournament. Speaking in Switzerland, Infantino praised the current 48-team format as a complete success but emphasized the need to give smaller nations a chance to participate and improve, stating, "Every nation deserves the right to dream." The idea of a 64-team World Cup was first proposed in March 2025 by Ignacio Alonso of the Uruguayan Football Association and has received public support from CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez, who called it "a dream that will unite the world."

The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted across three continents by six countries: Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Currently, the South American hosts are scheduled to host only one match each, but expanding to 64 teams could allow Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to host entire groups, compensating for their inability to host a full World Cup until at least 2042 under FIFA rules. However, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has strongly opposed the expansion, calling it a "bad idea" that would harm the tournament's quality and European qualifiers. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani and many coaches and players have also expressed concerns about diluting the competition's level. Ghana's coach Carlos Queiroz criticized the 48-team format for lowering the value of qualifiers and making the World Cup "vulgar and ordinary."

While Infantino frames the expansion as a way to develop global football, journalist Roman Molina suggests it is a strategic move to secure Infantino's re-election by gaining support from powerful African football officials. These officials would push to amend FIFA's term limits to allow Infantino to run for another term. If implemented, the 2030 World Cup would include over a quarter of FIFA's 210 member nations, potentially rendering qualifiers less meaningful for stronger teams. Additionally, Infantino confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he reportedly communicates almost daily, will attend the 2026 World Cup final and present the trophy to the winning team.