FIFA will consider a proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed, saying the governing body will examine the idea after the 2026 tournament.
Speaking to Swiss news outlet Bluewin, Infantino described the expansion of the 2026 World Cup from 32 to 48 teams as a "100 percent" success and said FIFA's committees would review the proposal for an even larger tournament.
"The proposal will be examined and discussed," Infantino said.
The FIFA chief argued that the expanded format has helped football grow globally by giving more nations the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage.
He pointed to the performances of smaller footballing nations during the ongoing 2026 World Cup, saying teams from every continent had scored goals and earned points, while a record number of African nations progressed to the knockout stage.
What could a 64-team World Cup look like?
FIFA has not announced a proposed format, but one option would see 16 groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to a 32-team knockout stage.
Such a tournament would likely feature 128 matches, compared with 104 matches in the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup and 64 matches under the previous 32-team format.
Who supports the proposal?
The proposal has received strong backing from CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez has argued that the centenary edition of the World Cup in 2030 should include more nations to celebrate 100 years of the tournament.
The idea was first raised by Uruguayan Football Federation President Ignacio Alonso during a FIFA Council meeting in 2025.
Who opposes it?
The proposal has faced resistance from senior football officials in Europe and Asia.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin described the idea as "a bad idea," warning it could weaken both the World Cup and the qualifying process.
Similarly, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa opposed the proposal, saying repeated expansion could create unnecessary complications and undermine the tournament's structure.
Critics also argue that a 64-team World Cup would further congest the international football calendar, increase demands on players and clubs, and reduce the competitiveness of the group stage.
Where will the 2030 World Cup be held?
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with centenary matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the 100th anniversary of the inaugural tournament in 1930.
The event will become the first FIFA World Cup to be staged across six countries on three continents.
When could FIFA decide?
FIFA has not announced a timeline for deciding on the proposal.
Any expansion would require approval from the FIFA Council, although no vote has yet been scheduled.
