New Delhi: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that world football’s governing body will examine a proposal to expand the FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament, saying the move would give more nations the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
The proposal will be discussed by FIFA’s relevant committees after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which will already feature an expanded 48 team format for the first time. The tournament, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marks the first increase in participating teams since the competition expanded from 24 to 32 nations in 1998.
Speaking about the possibility of another expansion, Infantino said every country should have the chance to dream of qualifying for the World Cup. He noted that the overall standard of football continues to improve across the globe and believes offering more nations an opportunity to participate would encourage further development of the sport.
The FIFA chief also described the decision to increase the tournament to 48 teams as a complete success, expressing confidence that the expanded format would strengthen the competition and create greater global participation.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is already set to be a landmark edition, with matches scheduled across six countries on three continents. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host one opening match to commemorate the centenary of the inaugural World Cup, while Morocco, Portugal and Spain will stage the remainder of the tournament.
Discussions about a further expansion began after FIFA received a formal proposal from South American representatives in 2025, suggesting a 64 team tournament for the centenary edition.
If approved, the move would make the 2030 World Cup the largest in the competition’s history, significantly increasing the number of participating nations and further reshaping the global football landscape.
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