Bombshell: Gianni Infantino confirmed that FIFA will consider expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams

The FIFA will once again discuss a possible modification to the format of the World Cup. After implementing the tournament with 48 teams in the 2026 edition, the organization will analyze the possibility of expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, an idea that has gained momentum in recent months.

The person who confirmed the news was the president of the international body, Gianni Infantino, who in an interview with the Swiss media Bluewin stated: "Without a doubt, a 64-team tournament will be a topic that will be analyzed and debated in the relevant committees after this World Cup. It is a tournament for the whole world, not just for Europe and South America".

The official defended the possibility of further increasing the number of participants and argued that the measure would promote the growth of football globally. "All nations should be able to dream of participating in the World Cup. It can be seen that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it is increasing everywhere in the world. If smaller countries are not given the opportunity to participate in the World Cup, they will lack the incentive to continue improving", he argued.

The changes that the expansion would generate

If realized, the proposal would have a direct impact on the organization of the 2030 World Cup, which will be the first held on three continents. Currently, it is planned that Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will host only the opening matches, while the rest of the tournament will take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

However, if the competition ultimately expands to 64 teams, the distribution of the venues could be modified. One of the alternatives being considered is that the three South American countries host all the matches of their respective groups, allowing them to play three home games instead of one.

The supporters and opponents of the initiative

The idea is promoted by the president of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez, who on various occasions has expressed his support for a 64-team World Cup and stated that a special edition for the centenary of the tournament should be "an opportunity to unite the world".

However, the project also faces resistance. The president of UEFA, Aleksander Čeferin, described the initiative as a "bad idea" and warned that it could affect both the prestige of the World Cup and the development of the continental qualifiers. In the same vein, the head of CONCACAF, Victor Montagliani, considered that a new expansion would not benefit the competition.

For now, there is no definitive decision, although FIFA confirmed that the debate will be part of its agenda once the 2026 World Cup concludes. If approved, it would be one of the most significant transformations in the history of the World Cup.