FIFA Considering 64-Team Expansion for 2030 World Cup

On Thursday, FIFA dropped a bombshell regarding its historic event — the World Cup.

With the centenary of the World Cup coming in 2030, FIFA is set to review a proposal that would expand the 2030 edition to 64 teams. While the field is expanding from 32 to 48 teams at the 2026 World Cup — set to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico — the 64-team proposal would be a one-off event.

“A proposal to analyze a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member in the ‘miscellaneous’ agenda item near the end of the FIFA Council meeting held on March 5, 2025,” a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.

The 2030 World Cup will have games on multiple continents. Three games will be hosted in South America in tribute to the inaugural World Cup. In addition to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay playing host, games will also take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

In a report by The New York Times, it was stated that the proposal was made by Uruguayan delegate Ignacio Alonso. The report also indicated that Alonso’s proposal was met with “stunned silence”.

It cited three people that attended the meeting added, “FIFA was likely to be guided by financial and political benefits as much as sporting ones when it came to taking a decision on the matter.” Additionally, per “four people with direct knowledge of the discussions” The New York Times added that FIFA president Gianni Infantino “acknowledged the proposal and said it should be analyzed more closely.”

“The idea was acknowledged as FIFA has a duty to analyze any proposal from one of its Council members,” the FIFA spokesperson said.