FIFA to consider 64-team World Cup for 2030, says Infantino
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New York: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said football's governing body will formally examine the possibility of expanding the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition after the conclusion of the ongoing 2026 tournament.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is the first edition to feature an expanded 48-team format, replacing the 32-team structure used from 1998 to 2022.
Under the current format, the 48 participating teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, qualify for the newly introduced Round of 32, with the tournament featuring a total of 104 matches.
Speaking to Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino said FIFA's relevant committees would discuss the proposal for a further expansion after the current World Cup.
He said allowing more nations to participate would give smaller footballing countries greater opportunities to compete on the global stage and encourage their long-term development, noting that the overall standard of international football continues to improve worldwide.
Infantino also described the expansion from 32 to 48 teams as a complete success, expressing confidence that the larger tournament format has strengthened the competition.
If approved, a 64-team World Cup would mark another major transformation of the tournament, likely increasing the number of participating nations, matches and logistical requirements for host countries.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is already set to be the most geographically diverse edition in history. Uruguay will host a centenary match to commemorate the first World Cup held in 1930, while Argentina and Paraguay will each stage one match. The remainder of the tournament will be hosted jointly by Morocco, Portugal and Spain across three continents.
With IANS inputs