FIFA president Gianni Infantino has suggested that the men's World Cup could be expanded to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. In an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino said the idea would be examined after the current World Cup.
"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino stated. He argued that every nation should be allowed to dream of participating, and that giving smaller countries a chance incentivises improvement.
The World Cup expanded from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. Infantino deemed the 48-team format a "huge success", noting that teams from every continent scored goals and earned points, and nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage. However, only two African sides and two Asian sides advanced past the last 32.
The 2030 World Cup is set to be a multi-continent event, with the first three matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, and the rest in Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Expansion to 64 teams could allow each South American nation to host a full group, rather than a single match.
