​FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the organization will explore the possibility of expanding the World Cup to a 64-team format as early as the 2030 edition. The Athletic, the sports division of The New York Times, published the information. The current tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, introduced a 48-team format, a substantial increase from the 32-team lineup that was in place from 1998 to 2022. For 2030, the World Cup is planned to be staged across six nations and three continents: Morocco, Portugal and Spain will host most of the matches, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each stage one match at the tournament’s start to honor the centenary of the 1930 World Cup.
Momentum for expansion grew in September 2025 after FIFA received a formal proposal from a delegation of South American leaders. In an interview with the Swiss outlet Bluewin, Infantino said the discussions would take place soon after this World Cup concludes. He stated that the topic will be examined and debated in the relevant committees once this edition ends, emphasizing that every nation should have the right to dream of taking part in the tournament. He noted that the quality of teams is extremely high and continues to improve globally, arguing that smaller nations must have the opportunity to participate if they are to have the incentive to keep improving. Infantino also defended the current 48-team format, describing it as “100% a success.”
The remarks respond to criticism from figures such as Ghana’s coach Carlos Queiroz, who contended that expansion had devalued the qualifiers and rendered the tournament “vulgar and commonplace.” There is broad discussion about who might support a 64-team World Cup. The original concept originated with Uruguayan official Ignacio Alonso during a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025. Later, in November, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez called a 64-team tournament his “dream,” suggesting that an expansion of such magnitude “would unite the world, even if only once.” Under FIFA rotation rules, a continent can host the World Cup only once every three editions. By hosting matches in 2030, South America is barred from acting as the main host again until at least 2042. If the tournament expands to 64 teams, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay could each host an entire group rather than receiving only a single opening match.
Opposition to expansion has been voiced by some curators and regions. A 64-team World Cup would involve more than a quarter of FIFA’s 210 member associations, raising concerns that regional qualifiers could lose their meaning. Even under the current 48-team format, six of the ten South American teams already qualify automatically, with a seventh entering the intercontinental playoff. Critics from Europe and North America have also voiced concerns about the broader implications for competition, revenue distribution, and the logistical complexity of a larger event.