FIFA considering expansion to 64 teams for 2030 World Cup

Football’s world governing body, FIFA, is weighing the possibility of expanding the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 participating nations, according to a report from the New York Times on Thursday.

The tournament is already set to be historic, with matches hosted across Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, while Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, the birthplace nations of the inaugural 1930 World Cup, will each stage one centenary match.

Proposal Raised in FIFA Council

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the idea surfaced during the FIFA Council meeting on March 5, 2025, when Uruguayan delegate Ignacio Alonso introduced the proposal under the “miscellaneous” agenda item.

“A proposal to analyse a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member,” the spokesperson told Reuters. “The idea was acknowledged as FIFA has a duty to analyse any proposal from one of its Council members.”

Reports suggest the suggestion was met with “stunned silence” by those in attendance, as it would represent another rapid expansion following the decision to increase the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2026.

Financial and Political Factors in Play

According to sources cited by the New York Times, FIFA will likely weigh not only the sporting impact but also the financial and political advantages of further expansion. President Gianni Infantino is said to have described the proposal as “an interesting one that should be analysed more closely.”

The 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be the first World Cup with 48 teams, already the largest in the competition’s history. Expanding to 64 just four years later would mark a seismic shift in global football.

What it means for 2030

If approved, the expansion would:

• Bring 16 more nations into the competition than planned.
• Increase the number of matches, travel logistics, and host city commitments across the six host nations.
• Potentially heighten the centenary’s symbolic nature by involving more countries than ever before.

However, critics may raise concerns about tournament quality, fixture congestion, and the strain on infrastructure across multiple continents.

The centenary edition is already unprecedented with six host nations across two continents. Whether FIFA opts to add another layer of history by expanding to 64 teams remains to be seen. A final decision is expected to follow further analysis and consultations.

SportsLigue