FIFA President Infantino says World Cup could expand to 64 teams for 2030

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the governing body will discuss expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition after the 2026 tournament ends. He told Swiss broadcaster Bluewin that the competition should be organised for the whole world, not just Europe and South America, adding, “Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup.”

Infantino cited the success of the 48‑team 2026 tournament – higher overall quality and nine of ten African teams reaching the knockout stage – as evidence that a larger format can work. The proposal, first raised by CONMEBOL in March 2025, has support from South American officials, while UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani have warned that further expansion could harm the tournament’s quality and calendar.

If approved, a 64‑team World Cup would feature 128 matches, roughly double the 32‑team era, and would be co‑hosted by six nations across three continents: Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay for opening matches, with the remaining games in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.