FIFA Considers Expanding Future World Cup Tournaments to 64 Teams

Gianni Infantino links 64-team World Cup expansion to his 2031 re-election bid

The proposal is not entirely new; it has been under discussion at FIFA for well over a year. Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is currently serving a term that ends next year. As he seeks re-election for his final term as FIFA president, the 64-team expansion has emerged as a radical card in his platform. According to The Sun, Infantino has left open the possibility of expanding the 2030 tournament to include 64 nations. If he secures re-election in the upcoming presidential election, he could remain as FIFA president until 2031.

The core of Infantino’s argument rests on a simple premise: designing a World Cup means designing it for the entire world, not primarily for Europe and South America. When you organize a World Cup, it's important that you organize it for the whole world. It's not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup, Infantino said. He emphasized that the quality of teams is extremely high and continues to improve. He noted, If you don't give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving.

Cape Verde and other 2026 underdogs fuel the debate over 128 total matches

The 48-team format in the 2026 tournament incorporated 104 total matches. By contrast, the proposed 2030 World Cup would feature 64 teams, resulting in 128 matches—double the number of games played in the tournament from 1998 to 2022. While the 2026 edition was praised for allowing nations like Cape Verde and Curacao to qualify, it also drew criticism for logistical challenges and increased player workload. Cape Verde, in particular, provided a fairytale story by drawing with Spain and Uruguay to finish second in their group, before pushing Argentina to extra time in the last 16, where they eventually lost 3-2.

However, the expansion plans have faced scrutiny regarding the competitive edge of the tournament. During the 2026 summer group stage, teams including Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Panama, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan failed to pick up a single point. Critics argue that adding more teams would make it difficult to see a repeat of scenarios where top-four seeds—such as France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014, Germany in 2018, and Belgium in 2022—failed to reach the knockout stage. Based on this year’s qualifying, a 64-team tournament would have included additional nations such as Indonesia (ranked 118th), Oman (79th), United Arab Emirates (68th), Denmark (21st), Italy (12th), Poland (36th), Honduras (65th), and Jamaica.

Donald Trump request regarding AS Monaco striker Polin Valogun creates leadership instability

Infantino’s position is currently facing instability amid backlash from the European football community. He has recently dealt with controversy over his alleged role in exempting AS Monaco striker Polin Valogun from disciplinary action following a red card, a move reportedly requested by U.S. President Donald Trump. This incident has drawn continued criticism from the global football community as the organization prepares for its next leadership vote.

Despite these challenges, the proposal has real momentum. A coalition of South American federations is reportedly pushing hard for the expansion, and the concept is tied to the symbolic centenary of the tournament. FIFA officials have remained careful to note that no decision is imminent, but the governing body intends to formally examine the feasibility of the 64-team format once the 2026 tournament concludes. As the football world decompresses from the 2026 final, where Ferran Torres struck the winner for Spain in a match against Argentina, the debate over whether even more football becomes too much football remains a central structural question for the future of the sport.

Sources: bbc.com, sportingnews.com.