FIFA Weighs 64‑Team World Cup for 2030 Amid Ongoing Debate

FIFA changed the World Cup format for the 2026 tournament, expanding the field to 48 national teams. Although the expanded competition proved competitive and gave more nations a chance to reach the knockout stages, Gianni Infantino indicated that a further increase is being explored. He revealed that a move to a 64‑team World Cup for the 2030 edition is under consideration.

“That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees (expanding it to 64 national teams) after this World Cup,” Infantino said. “When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world—not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world… If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving,” he added via BlueWin.

Infantino’s interest is shared by CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez. In a November 2025 interview he expressed that his dream is to see the tournament played with 64 national teams. Both officials regard the proposal as a strong possibility, but they stress that a final decision has not been made and that internal deliberations are still ongoing.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, however, remains sceptical. During a UEFA media conference in Belgrade in April 2026, he warned that a 64‑team format would heavily impact the qualification process and called the expansion a bad idea. Consequently, FIFA still has important discussions to hold before any format change is finalised.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks about the 2026 World Cup with U.S. President Donald Trump

China and India Emerge as Potential Growth Markets for FIFA

Over the past few years, FIFA has introduced a series of reforms to the game. In addition to increasing the World Cup field to 48 teams, the organisation has updated rules and accelerated the adoption of technology. The possible expansion to 64 teams may also be driven by commercial considerations, as it could positively affect the sport’s presence in key markets such as India and China.

Both China and India are among the world’s most populous nations, yet neither has qualified for a World Cup finals tournament. Consequently, commercial rights in these markets have historically been modest. An expanded 64‑team format would increase their chances of making a debut, potentially unlocking new commercial opportunities.

The push for a 64‑team World Cup is not rooted in a bid to feature China and India, but the format shift would naturally create a realistic pathway for those countries to qualify for the first time. If both nations secure spots, their presence would likely stimulate greater interest in television rights, sponsorships, and grassroots investment, strengthening the global game.

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