FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that the possibility of increasing the number of participating teams in the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams will be considered.
In an interview with Swiss media outlet Blick on Sunday, July 12, Infantino said the proposal will be reviewed by relevant FIFA committees after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, with a final decision to be made afterward.
He said the World Cup should belong to all countries around the world, not only Europe and South America, and that every nation should have the opportunity to compete in the tournament.
The FIFA president added that football standards are improving in many countries and that denying smaller nations the chance to participate could reduce their motivation to develop the sport.
The World Cup was held with 32 teams until 2022, but the 2026 edition will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams.
Infantino described the expansion to 48 teams as a “great success” and said teams from all continents have performed well in the competition.
The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted across multiple countries and continents. The opening three matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, while the rest of the tournament will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
