FIFA To Consider 64 Teams For 2030 World Cup

Football governing body FIFA is eyeing an expansion into the next World Cup tournament.

According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday, July 12, the organization is considering including 64 teams in the 2030 World Cup.

Infantino explained that the expansion will ensure more nations get a chance at the tournament and would not be limited to just a few continents.

"This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," he said to a Swiss broadcaster.

"When you organize a World Cup, it's essential that you organize it for the whole world. It's not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup."

Infantino also pointed out that the expansion will be seen as a tool for improvement for countries that are currently underperforming in football.

"We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher everywhere in the world. If you don't give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving," he added. 

From 1998 till 2022, the World Cup has featured only 32 teams, and the 2026 edition is the first to have 48 participating countries.

If the 64-team format is approved, it means the 2030 World Cup would have 128 total matches - 24 more than this year's 104 matches.

The 2030 World Cup will mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament and it would be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.