FIFA to examine 64-team World Cup format for 2030

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that world football's governing body will formally consider expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. The proposal, which would be the largest single expansion in the competition's history, will be examined by FIFA's relevant committees following the conclusion of the ongoing 2026 World Cup.

In an interview with Swiss outlet Bluewin, Infantino argued that further expansion would make the tournament more global and inclusive. He stated that organizing a World Cup is important for the whole world, not just traditional powerhouses in Europe and South America, and that every nation should be allowed to dream of participating. Infantino pointed to rising quality across all continents as a justification, suggesting that without the chance to compete, smaller countries would lack the incentive to keep improving.

The current 2026 edition, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is the first to feature 48 teams, a format Infantino described as a huge success. He highlighted that every team played at a high level, with teams from every continent scoring goals and earning at least one point. He...