FIFA is considering expanding the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Infantino disclosed that the proposal, put forward by South American football officials, is currently under review ahead of the 2030 tournament, which will be staged across six countries on three continents to mark the World Cup’s centenary.
If approved, the expansion would increase the number of participating nations from 48—set to debut at the 2026 World Cup—to 64, allowing nearly one-third of FIFA’s member associations to compete at the finals.
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said FIFA would assess the proposal after the conclusion of the current World Cup.
“These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup,” he said, adding that the tournament should be organised in a way that benefits the entire global football community rather than only traditional football powers.
The FIFA president, who championed the expansion from 32 to 48 teams, argued that increasing participation would help accelerate football’s development in emerging nations.
According to him, giving more countries the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup provides an incentive for continued investment and improvement, while also reflecting the rising standard of international football.
Infantino pointed to the performances of African teams at the ongoing tournament as evidence that expanding the competition has not reduced its quality. He noted that teams from every continent have been competitive, with nine of the 10 African representatives progressing to the knockout stage.
He said the expanded format has demonstrated the value of providing more nations with the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
The World Cup featured 32 teams from 1998 through 2022 before expanding to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Despite initial concerns about the larger format, FIFA has described the ongoing 2026 competition as a success, citing record attendances and strong global television audiences.
The positive reception has encouraged football’s governing body to examine an even larger 64-team format, a move that would significantly alter qualification pathways and the structure of future World Cup tournaments.