Full Breakdown
FIFA Mulls 64-Team World Cup for 2030 Amid Mixed Reactions
7/14/2026, 11:09:12 AM
Core Proposal
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the governing body will examine a proposal to expand the men’s World Cup from the 48-team format used in 2026 to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. The review will be taken up by FIFA’s relevant committees after the North-American finals conclude, but no timetable for a council vote has been announced.
Background & Context
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marked the first edition with 48 teams, a change from the 32-team format that had been in place from 1998 to 2022. Infantino described the expansion as a “huge success,” noting that teams from every continent scored and that nine-out of-ten African nations reached the knockout stage. The 2030 tournament will celebrate the centenary of the competition and will be staged across six countries on three continents—Spain, Portugal and Morocco as primary hosts, with opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Key Figures & Groups
- Gianni Infantino – FIFA President, champion of further expansion.
- Alejandro Domínguez – President of CONMEBOL, the South American confederation that formally presented the 64-team idea in April 2025.
- Ignacio Alonso – President of the Uruguayan Football Federation, who first raised the proposal in March 2025.
- Aleksander Ceferin – President of UEFA, who called the plan “a bad idea.”
- Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa – President of the AFC, warning that expansion could lead to “chaos.”
- Victor Montagliani – President of CONCACAF, expressing that the move “doesn’t feel right” for the broader football ecosystem.
Data & Statistics
- 2026 tournament: 48 teams, 104 matches (up from 64 matches under the 32-team format).
- African representation: 9 of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage, compared with five in the previous World Cup.
- Asian performance: only two of eight Asian teams advanced past the group stage.
- A 64-team format would likely involve 16 groups of four, producing 128 matches.
Why It Matters
Proponents argue that a larger field would give more nations a realistic chance to qualify, potentially boosting football development in smaller countries and increasing FIFA’s revenue stream. Critics warn that the added matches would further congest an already crowded international calendar, strain player health, and dilute the competitive intensity of the group stage.
Official Statements & Responses
Infantino emphasized that the World Cup should be organized “for the whole world, not just Europe and South America,” and that excluding smaller nations would erode their incentive to improve. Domínguez framed the centennial as a unique moment to make the tournament more inclusive. The FIFA Council has been tasked with reviewing the proposal, but no decision date has been set.
Criticism & Opposition
UEFA’s Ceferin labeled the expansion “a bad idea” for both the tournament and the qualifying process. AFC chief Sheikh Salman warned that opening the door to 64 teams could invite further enlargement to “132 teams,” creating chaos. CONCACAF’s Montagliani cautioned that the change could harm the “broader football ecosystem.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree the proposal is under consideration, yet they differ on whether Infantino has “ruled out” the expansion or simply left the option open. No concrete format details or voting schedule have been disclosed, leaving the timeline and exact structure uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Advertisement Advertisement “Every nation should be allowed to dream of taking part in the World Cup.” — Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
- “It is not a good idea for the World Cup itself, and it’s not a good idea for our qualifiers as well,” — Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President
- “If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams, but someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.” — Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, AFC President
- “We are convinced that the centennial celebration will be unique because 100 years are celebrated only once,” — Alejandro Domínguez, CONMEBOL President
- “At the North American World Cup, nine out of ten African teams advanced to the tournament stage. In the previous World Cup, only five African teams participated.” — Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
What’s Next
Any amendment to the World Cup format must be approved by the FIFA Council. The council’s deliberations are expected to occur after the 2026 finals, but no specific meeting date has been announced. If approved, the 2030 World Cup—co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco—could become the first tournament with 64 participating nations.
