FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that football’s governing body is considering expanding the 2030 FIFA World Cup to a record 64 teams, a proposal that could significantly increase the number of nations participating in the tournament.
Infantino said the proposal, put forward by South American football officials, will be reviewed after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The 2030 World Cup, which will mark the centenary of the tournament, is scheduled to be hosted across six countries on three continents. If approved, the expanded format would allow nearly one-third of FIFA’s member associations to qualify for football’s biggest competition.
According to Infantino, the proposal is aimed at making the World Cup more inclusive by giving smaller football nations a greater opportunity to compete on the global stage.
“When you want to organise a World Cup, you do it for the whole world, not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world,” he said.
He added that expanding the tournament would encourage greater investment in football development across emerging nations, as more countries would have a realistic chance of qualifying for the competition.
Infantino also pointed to the improved performances of teams from different continents at the ongoing 2026 World Cup as evidence that the quality of football continues to improve globally.
The FIFA World Cup featured 32 teams from 1998 to 2022 before expanding to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. FIFA has described the new format as a success, citing increased competitiveness, higher attendance, and broader global representation.
Following the positive reception of the expanded tournament, FIFA is now evaluating the possibility of adopting a 64-team format for the 2030 World Cup, a move that could reshape qualification pathways and the future structure of international football if approved.
