FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced that the governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams.
This move comes after the success of the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which featured 48 teams for the first time.
According to Infantino, the 2030 tournament will be spread across six nations and three continents. The FIFA president believes that the World Cup should be organized "for the whole world, not just Europe and South America." The current 48-team format has been deemed a "huge success" by Infantino, who now suggests that a further expansion to 64 teams is worth considering.
The World Cup has undergone significant changes in recent years. The 2026 tournament marked the first time the competition featured 48 teams, up from the 32-team format used from 1998 through 2022. The expansion to 48 teams was seen as a major shift in the tournament's format, and the success of this format has now opened the door for further expansion.
Infantino's comments on the possibility of a 64-team World Cup have been met with a mix of reactions from fans and pundits. Some have argued that the current format is optimal and that further expansion would dilute the quality of the tournament. However, others see the potential benefits of a larger tournament, including increased representation for teams from around the world.
The decision to examine the possibility of a 64-team World Cup will be made after the 2026 tournament. The 2030 tournament will be a significant milestone in the history of the World Cup, and the decision on the format will have a major impact on the future of the competition.
The expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams would be a significant development in the history of the tournament. It would mean that more teams from around the world would have the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and it could potentially lead to a more diverse and representative tournament. However, the decision to expand the tournament will ultimately depend on the views of the FIFA president and the governing body.