FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that football’s governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams after declaring the newly enlarged 48-team tournament a success.
The 2026 World Cup marked the first edition to feature 48 nations, up from the 32-team format used between 1998 and 2022. FIFA is now considering adding another 16 teams for the centenary tournament in 2030.
The 2030 World Cup will be staged across six countries and three continents. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host one match to commemorate the tournament’s 100th anniversary, while Morocco, Portugal and Spain will host the majority of the competition.
Discussions about a further expansion began after FIFA received a formal proposal in September last year, with the issue expected to be revisited following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
Speaking to Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino said: “It (a 64-team tournament) is definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup.”
