FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that the governing body will explore the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams before the 2030 tournament. In an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino described the current 48-team format as a "huge success" and suggested that further growth could be beneficial.
Infantino's Vision for Global Inclusion
"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino said. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America – but effectively the entire world." He emphasized that every nation should have the opportunity to dream of participating, arguing that smaller countries need the incentive of potential qualification to improve their football programs.
Infantino noted that the quality of teams has risen globally. "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."
Success of the 48-Team Format
The World Cup expanded from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, which is currently ongoing with only the semi-finals, third-place playoff, and final remaining from a 104-match schedule. Infantino praised the expanded field, stating: "Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams – to give them this opportunity to participate."
2030 World Cup: A Multi-Continent Event
The 2030 World Cup is already set to be a historic multi-continent effort. The first three matches are scheduled to be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay – one per country – with the remaining games hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. An expansion to 64 teams could mean that the South American nations each host one four-team group rather than just a single match, significantly increasing their involvement.
Infantino's comments have sparked discussions about the logistical and competitive implications of such an expansion, including potential impacts on scheduling, infrastructure, and the quality of play. Critics have previously raised concerns about the 48-team format diluting the tournament's quality, but Infantino remains confident that the trend of rising global standards will continue.
The proposal will be formally examined by FIFA committees after the conclusion of the current World Cup, with any decision likely to shape the future of international football for decades to come.
