FIFA President Gianni Infantino Signals 64-Team World Cup for 2030

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he is open to expanding the World Cup from the current 48 teams to 64 for the 2030 edition. He described the 48‑team tournament as a “huge success” and highlighted that “nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage,” using the result to argue for greater global inclusion.

If adopted, the 64‑team format would likely feature 16 groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing, raising the total number of matches to 128. The proposal will be examined by FIFA committees after the conclusion of the ongoing tournament.

Support for the expansion comes mainly from CONMEBOL, which proposes a one‑time increase to mark the centenary of the event. The 2030 World Cup is planned to be co‑hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three opening matches scheduled in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation have voiced opposition, calling the idea a “bad idea” for the tournament and its qualifiers.

The change could increase tournament revenues, which were projected at over $10 billion for the current edition.