FIFA President Gianni Infantino is considering a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup by adding 16 additional nations.
Published On 12 Jul 2026
FIFA officials are set to evaluate the potential expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams prior to the 2030 tournament, according to President Gianni Infantino in a recent interview.
Infantino told Bluewin, a Swiss media outlet, that increasing the tournament from 48 to 64 teams could be viable.
“This matter will be under review in the relevant committees following this World Cup,” he stated to Bluewin.
“When organizing a World Cup, it’s crucial to organize it for the entire globe – not just Europe and South America, but effectively every region of the world. Every nation should have the opportunity to aspire to participate in the World Cup. The quality of participating teams is exceptionally high and continues to improve across all continents. Without providing smaller nations a pathway to participate, they lack the incentive to enhance their football development.”
The World Cup field expanded from 32 teams (1998–2022) to 48 teams starting in 2026.
The 2026 tournament has seen Argentina, England, France, and Spain advance to the later stages, with two semifinal matches and the final scheduled across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Infantino described the 48-team format as a “resounding success.”
“Every team competed at a high level. Teams from all continents scored goals and secured at least one point,” he said. “Nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage. In the previous World Cup, only five African teams qualified, demonstrating the importance of inclusivity and providing nations this opportunity.”
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with the first three matches scheduled in the South American nations.
Expansion to 64 teams could enable each South American nation to host a four-team group rather than a single match.
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