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 that the next step will be discussed soon by relevant committees. He stated, "Every nation deserves the right to dream," highlighting the goal of giving smaller countries more opportunities to participate and improve.

The idea was first proposed in March 2025 by Ignacio Alonso, a senior official in the Uruguayan Football Association, and received public support from CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, who called a 64-team World Cup a "dream that will unite the world." The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted across three continents and six countries (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay). Currently, 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, the proposal faces strong opposition from UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who labeled it a "bad idea" that would harm the tournament's quality and European qualifiers. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani also opposes the expansion. Many coaches and players worry about dilution of quality and inflation of the tournament. Ghana 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 Infantino’s push is politically motivated to secure his re-election. Infantino is reportedly leveraging support from powerful African football officials by promising more World Cup spots and financial benefits in exchange for changing FIFA’s term limits to allow him to run again.

If approved, the 2030 World Cup would feature over a quarter of FIFA’s 210 member nations, potentially rendering qualifiers less meaningful for stronger teams. Infantino also 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 winners.