FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that plans for expanding the World Cup to 64 teams will be assessed after the 2026 finals conclude. Infantino emphasized that such a tournament format would align with FIFA’s goal of making the competition accessible to all nations globally, rather than concentrating participation among traditional powerhouses in Europe and South America.
Infantino pointed to the success of the current 48-team World Cup expansion as a foundation for considering further growth. He noted that African nations demonstrated competitive strength in the expanded format, with nine of ten teams from that continent advancing to the knockout stages, compared to only five African participants in the previous tournament structure. According to Infantino, providing opportunities for smaller nations encourages their continued development and investment in football infrastructure.
A formal proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by South American governing body Conmebol in April 2025, though no final decision has been made. The 2030 tournament will be hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay hosting three opening matches to commemorate the competition’s centenary. However, the expansion proposal has encountered significant resistance from other continental confederations, with leaders from European, Asian, and North American football bodies expressing concerns about tournament feasibility and competitive balance.
Support for the expansion concept is not universal. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin dismissed the proposal as detrimental to both tournament quality and qualifying procedures. The Asian Football Confederation president warned that further expansion could create administrative chaos, while the North American confederation president stated the concept “doesn’t feel right.” By contrast, a representative from the U.S. World Cup task force indicated the United States could potentially host a 64-team World Cup if expansion proceeds and a future bid were successful.
The logistical challenges of hosting such an expanded tournament remain substantial, as larger tournaments require greater infrastructure across multiple nations. Any decision regarding 64-team World Cup expansion would ultimately rest with FIFA’s council, though no imminent action is anticipated at present.