FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed interest in potentially increasing the number of teams to 64 for the 2030 men’s World Cup, following the current 48-team format in the ongoing 2026 tournament. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marks the first time the competition features 48 teams, up from the previous 32-team setup used from 1998 to 2022.
In the current format, the 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32. This expansion has led to a total of 104 matches scheduled throughout the tournament. Infantino has indicated that FIFA will assess the potential for further growth of the competition as the World Cup reaches its centenary in 2030.
Infantino emphasized the importance of allowing every nation the opportunity to dream of participating in the World Cup, highlighting the increasing quality of teams worldwide. He noted that excluding smaller countries from the tournament could hinder their motivation to progress. The FIFA president praised the shift from 32 to 48 teams as a resounding success, paving the way for potential future expansions.
The prospective move to a 64-team tournament would mark a significant alteration to the World Cup structure, potentially leading to an increase in matches, participating nations, and logistical complexities for the hosts. The 2030 World Cup is already poised to be distinctive, with matches spread across six countries and three continents. Uruguay, the inaugural World Cup host in 1930, will hold a centenary celebration match, while Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain are also set to host matches.
