FIFA Eyes 64 Teams for 2030 World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has stated that the organization would like to see 64 national teams in the 2030 World Cup, an increase of 16 from the current 48-team format.
FIFA is considering further expansion of the World Cup finals. President Gianni Infantino revealed that the organization would welcome 64 national teams participating in the 2030 tournament. This would represent an increase of 16 teams compared to the 48-team format set to debut in 2026.
Infantino indicated that FIFA will evaluate the feasibility of this expansion. The idea of 64 teams is not new – proposals to increase access for more countries have been discussed previously.
Currently, the World Cup finals feature 32 teams, but from 2026 it will expand to 48. The latest plans suggest FIFA continues to seek ways to involve more national teams to promote football globalization. However, such expansion could raise concerns about tournament quality and logistics.
A decision on the 64-team format has not yet been made, and FIFA promises to carefully assess all aspects before a final decision. The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which may also affect the number of matches and organization.
