Fifa officials are contemplating an increase in the World Cup format to accommodate 64 teams ahead of the 2030 tournament, as indicated by Gianni Infantino in a recent interview. The Fifa president expressed to Bluewin, a Swiss media platform, that such an expansion from 48 to 64 teams could be beneficial.
“That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino stated. “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. “Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high – and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”
He further emphasized, “Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams – to give them this opportunity to participate.”
Success of the 48-Team Format
The World Cup featured 32 teams from 1998 until 2022, with the upcoming 2026 edition marking the first with a field of 48 teams. Currently, only two semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and the final remain in a rigorous 104-match schedule.
Infantino described the 48-team setup as a “huge success,” noting, “Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams – to give them this opportunity to participate.”
2030 Tournament Overview
The 2030 World Cup is set to be a collaborative effort across multiple continents. Initial matches are scheduled to occur in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, with each hosting one game. The subsequent matches will take place in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
Should the tournament expand to 64 teams, it could allow the South American nations to host an entire four-team group instead of just a single match, enhancing their involvement in the event.
