FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that officials will examine the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams before the 2030 tournament. The potential addition of 16 teams will be discussed in relevant committees after the current World Cup. Infantino stated that the event should be organized for the entire world, not just Europe and South America, to ensure every nation has the opportunity to participate and the incentive to improve.
The 2026 edition, held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is the first to feature 48 teams, an increase from the 32-team field used between 1998 and 2022. Infantino called the 48-team format a huge success, noting that teams from every continent scored goals and earned points. He highlighted that nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage, compared to only five in the previous tournament. Currently, Argentina, England, France, and Spain are the final four teams remaining in the competition.
The 2030 World Cup will be a multi-continent effort, with the opening matches scheduled in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, and the rest of the games staged in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Infantino noted that expanding the field to 64 teams could allow the South American host nations to each host a four-team group rather than a single match.