FIFA to weigh doubling 2030 World Cup field to 64 nations

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the organization will consider expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, adding another 16 nations to the already-expanded 48-team format debuting in 2026, according to multiple reports. Vanguard News reported that FIFA will examine the proposal following the conclusion of the ongoing 2026 tournament, while KELO-AM noted that officials will look at the possibility before the 2030 event.

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Vanguard NewsFIFA to consider expanding 2030 World Cup to 64 teamsKELO-AMAs 2026 World Cup winds down, potential 2030 expansion to be discussed

The 2030 tournament is already set to be historic in its own right. As the New York Times reported, it will span six nations across three continents, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and three others, to mark the centenary of the first World Cup in 1930. "a historic, spanning six nations across three continents" :: nytimes.com

nytimes.comFIFA to consider expanding 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, says Infantino

Adding 64 teams to that already complex logistical setup would represent a radical leap in scale. The current 48-team format, which debuts in 2026 with matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was itself a major expansion from the 32-team structure that has been in place since 1998. Doubling that again for the centenary edition would require even more host venues and a reworked match schedule.

Infantino has frequently pushed for larger tournaments as a way to grow the game globally, and Vanguard News noted that the proposal would be examined after the 2026 World Cup concludes. KELO-AM reported that the discussion is being framed as a possibility rather than a certainty, leaving room for debate among FIFA’s member associations.

The move, if approved, would make the 2030 World Cup the largest in history by a wide margin, potentially reshaping qualification and the tournament’s structure. For now, Infantino’s comments signal that FIFA is at least open to a 64-team future, even as organizers work to deliver the first 48-team edition next year.