Infantino Eyes a 64-Team World Cup for 2030
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that football's governing body is considering another major expansion of the FIFA World Cup. Following the positive response to the new 48-team format introduced for the 2026 tournament, FIFA is now exploring the possibility of increasing the competition to 64 teams for the 2030 edition.
The proposal has already sparked widespread debate across the football world, with supporters praising its inclusiveness while critics question its impact on the tournament's quality.
Another Major Expansion Under Consideration
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked the first edition featuring 48 participating nations, replacing the long-standing 32-team format.
According to Infantino, the expanded tournament has been a major success, encouraging FIFA to examine whether an even larger competition could be feasible in the future.
Although no final decision has been made, the FIFA President confirmed that the proposal for a 64-team tournament will be reviewed by the organization's committees after the current competition.
A Truly Global Tournament
Infantino emphasized that the World Cup should not belong exclusively to football's traditional powerhouses.
He argued that expanding the tournament would provide more nations with the opportunity to compete on the world's biggest stage while encouraging football development in emerging countries.
"The FIFA World Cup does not belong only to Europe and South America. Every nation should have the opportunity to dream of qualifying. Without that possibility, smaller football countries may lose motivation to grow," Infantino said.
Critics Raise Concerns
While FIFA considers the 48-team format a complete success, many analysts remain skeptical about another expansion.
Critics argue that adding more teams could reduce the overall quality of the competition, weaken the importance of qualifying campaigns, and place additional physical demands on players due to an increasingly crowded international calendar.
Meanwhile, FIFA believes that giving more countries access to the World Cup will help accelerate football's global development.
The final decision regarding the tournament format is expected to be made in the coming years as preparations for the 2030 World Cup continue.
