World Cup Expansion Discussions Continue

By Arjun Sharma — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

Discussions on World Cup Expansion

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that the governing body will assess plans for a 64-team men’s World Cup following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament. This proposal aims to further expand the competition beyond the 48-team format set to debut in 2026. The idea for a larger tournament was initially put forward last year, and Infantino noted that the success of the current expanded format suggests that FIFA should explore the feasibility of a 64-team event.

Infantino emphasised that organising the World Cup should be for the benefit of the entire world, not solely for Europe and South America. He stated that every nation should have the aspiration to participate in the tournament. He also highlighted the increasing quality of teams globally, suggesting that providing smaller countries with a chance to participate offers an incentive for continued improvement.

The FIFA council had previously approved the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2017. An official proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by the South American governing body, Conmebol, in April 2025. However, no final decision has been made regarding this further expansion.

Perspectives on the Proposed Expansion

The notion of a 64-team World Cup has garnered mixed reactions from various football officials. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has voiced opposition, describing the 64-team proposal as a “bad idea” for both the tournament itself and its qualification process. Similarly, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa expressed concerns, suggesting that further expansion could lead to “chaos.”

Conversely, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, indicated that the United States might consider bidding to host the 2038 World Cup and would be capable of managing an expanded 64-team tournament.

FIFA’s official stance is to discuss expansion ideas with stakeholders and to consider all proposals from council members. The ultimate decision rests with the FIFA council, though there are no indications that an immediate change is expected.

Challenges and Potential Benefits

Expanding the World Cup to 64 teams would present significant challenges for host nations. The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 2030 edition is planned to be primarily hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with three opening matches taking place in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the competition’s centenary. The greater the number of teams, the more complex hosting becomes.

Despite the logistical hurdles, a 64-team World Cup could offer several advantages. It would allow more countries the opportunity to participate, potentially including almost a third of the 211 FIFA-affiliated countries. This expanded format could also lead to increased revenue, which would then be distributed among member associations. Infantino highlighted the success of the 48-team format, noting the progression of African teams to the knockout stages, demonstrating the importance of inclusivity.

The discussion around a 64-team tournament will be a key topic for FIFA committees after the current World Cup concludes.

The idea for a 64-team tournament was first proposed by Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso at a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025. Later, in November 2025, Alejandro Dominguez, president of Conmebol and a FIFA vice-president, described a 64-team tournament in 2030 as his “dream,” believing it would “unite the world, just once.”

For the 2030 tournament, South America will host three centenary matches, which means the continent will not be able to host the World Cup again until at least 2042 due to FIFA’s hosting stipulations. An expanded tournament could potentially allow countries like Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to host full groups instead of just a single match each.

However, Infantino has maintained that the expansion to 48 teams has been a success.

The feasibility of a 64-team World Cup will be reviewed by FIFA’s relevant committees ahead of the 2030 edition.

Source: bbc.com