FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the governing body will investigate the feasibility of expanding the FIFA World Cup to a 64-team tournament for the 2030 edition. The announcement came during an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin, as reported by The Athletic.
Expansion Already Underway for 2026
The World Cup is already set for a major expansion in 2026, increasing from 32 to 48 teams for the finals hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 32-team format had been in place from 1998 through the 2022 World Cup. Infantino described the expansion to 48 teams as "100 per cent a success," highlighting the positive reception ahead of its introduction at the upcoming tournament.
Infantino's Vision for Inclusion
"It (a 64-team tournament) is definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino said. He emphasized the importance of giving every nation the opportunity to dream of participating: "Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving."
Historic Multi-Continent 2030 Tournament
The 2030 World Cup will be a historic event, with matches scheduled across six nations spanning three continents. Uruguay, host of the inaugural 1930 World Cup, along with 2022 champions Argentina and Paraguay, will each stage one opening match. The remaining 101 matches in the 48-team format will be shared between Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. This marks the first time the tournament will be held across multiple continents.
Formal Proposal from South America
In September 2025, FIFA began discussions on further expansion for 2030 after receiving a formal proposal from a delegation of influential South American leaders. The proposal prompted the governing body to consider moving beyond the 48-team format already planned for 2026. Infantino's comments indicate that the 64-team concept will be formally evaluated after the upcoming World Cup.
The 56-year-old FIFA president noted that the quality of teams worldwide is rising, making it feasible to include more nations. He argued that expanding the tournament would provide motivation for smaller footballing countries to develop their programs. The decision on whether to adopt the 64-team format will depend on the outcomes of committee discussions and feasibility studies.
