FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that the possibility of expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams will be examined after the current tournament, ahead of the 2030 edition. In an interview with Swiss outlet Bluewin, Infantino stated that the idea makes sense and will be discussed in relevant committees.

“When organising a World Cup, it’s important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America – but effectively the entire world,” Infantino said. “Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating. If you don’t give smaller countries a chance, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”

The World Cup expanded from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, which is currently underway in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Four teams remain: Argentina, England, France, and Spain. Infantino called the 48-team format a “huge success,” noting that nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage.

The 2030 tournament will be a multi-continent event, with the first three matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, and the rest in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Expanding to 64 teams could allow each South American host nation to stage a full group stage rather than a single match.

Infantino emphasized the rising quality of teams worldwide, arguing that inclusion drives development. The proposal, if approved, would make the 2030 World Cup the largest in history, further globalizing the sport.

Source: www.aljazeera.com