Fifa is to consider a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup finals to 64 teams, an adjustment that would mean more than a quarter of its 211 member associations would take part.
According to the New York Times, Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association, proposed expanding the 2030 men’s World Cup finals to 64 teams. This would involve more than a quarter of FIFA’s 211 member associations. Uruguay will be one of three South American countries hosting the event.
A Fifa spokesperson told the Guardian it had a duty to consider all requests from council members: “A proposal to analyse a 64-team Fifa World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the Fifa World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a Fifa council member in the ‘miscellaneous’ agenda item near the end of the Fifa council meeting held on 5 March 2025. The idea was acknowledged as Fifa has a duty to analyse any proposal from one of its council members.”
What would happen if the proposal goes through?
Since his election as FIFA president in 2016, Infantino has worked relentlessly to increase and broaden the reach of the most prestigious trophy in sports. The tournament next year in Mexico, Canada, and the US will see the number of participating teams rise from 32 to 48, with the number of matches expanding from 64 to 104.
Africa will have nine teams at the World Cup next year, with one more team qualifying through the intercontinental playoffs.
In 2030, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will serve as joint hosts, with centenary matches also held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. The inclusion of 16 additional teams would mean in South America, the increase in teams could effectively eliminate the need for a qualifying round.
Meanwhile, as many as half of UEFA’s 55 nations might qualify. In Asia, Africa, and Oceania, however, the expansion is likely to be welcomed, with several countries making their World Cup debut as a result.
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