FIFA is considering a significant expansion of the 2030 World Cup: instead of the previously approved 48 teams, as many as 64 national teams could participate in the tournament.
This is reported by Finway
Initiative from the South American Confederation
The request to increase the number of participants came from the South American Football Confederation. This organization advocates for giving national teams that typically do not reach the elite of world football a chance to compete in the tournament. The expansion of the format will allow more countries to gain experience on the main football stage of the planet.
Support and further decisions
The proposal to expand the number of participants in the 2030 World Cup, which will take place in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, has also received support from other national federations. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly emphasized how important participation is for countries that previously did not have the opportunity to qualify for the world championship.
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly stressed the importance of the world championship for countries that previously did not have a chance to qualify for it.”
Currently, the structure for the 2030 World Cup is officially approved for a format with 48 teams. However, FIFA will begin the direct organization of the tournament after July 19, 2026, which allows time for a final decision on a possible format change.
Additionally, in May, FIFA celebrated its 122nd anniversary since its founding, remaining one of the most influential organizations in the world of sports.