FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the organization is studying the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 national teams for 2030 [1].
This potential expansion represents a significant shift in the tournament's scale, affecting everything from qualifying formats to player fatigue and hosting logistics. A move to a larger field would further globalize the sport but risks diluting the quality of competition.
The proposal involves increasing the field from 48 teams to 64 [1]. In an interview with the Swiss media outlet Bluewin, FIFA committees said they will examine the feasibility of this expanded format [1]. The organization intends to review the proposal following the conclusion of the current edition and before the 2030 tournament begins [1].
Not all football leadership supports the move. Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, said that having 64 teams in the 2030 World Cup is a "bad idea" [2]. This creates a visible rift between the global governing body and the European federation regarding the future of the international calendar.
FIFA has not provided a specific rationale for the proposed increase to 64 teams [1]. The organization's committees will determine if the logistical demands of such a tournament are manageable, considering the infrastructure required for a larger number of matches and teams.
While Infantino has signaled an openness to the expansion, the final decision will depend on the findings of the internal committees [1]. The debate centers on whether the benefit of increased global representation outweighs the potential for a bloated tournament schedule.
“FIFA is studying the possibility of expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 national teams for the 2030 edition”
The tension between FIFA and UEFA reflects a broader struggle over the commercialization of football versus the physical limits of the players. Expanding to 64 teams would maximize revenue and global reach, but it would likely face fierce opposition from top European leagues and players' unions due to the increased workload on athletes.
