FIFA Explores 64-Team Format for Upcoming 2030 World Cup

WHO:

Yahoo Sports - CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez described a 64-team tournament as his "dream" in November 2025.

Yahoo Sports - Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso proposed the idea of a 64-team tournament during a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025.

Yahoo Sports - CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez described a 64-team tournament as his "dream."

Bleacher Report - FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Al Jazeera - FIFA officials

Sports Illustrated - Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz

Sports Business Journal - CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez

Yahoo Sports - UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin

Yahoo Sports - Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso

WHAT:

Sports Business Journal - Infantino stated that a 64-team tournament would mean over a quarter of FIFA's 210 member associations would compete.

Al Jazeera - Infantino confirmed that the 48-team format has been a "huge success," with nine out of ten African teams reaching the knockout stage.

Bleacher Report - Infantino stated that Cape Verde advanced to the knockout stage and pushed Argentina to extra time in the round of 32 during the 2026 World Cup.

Bleacher Report - DR Congo picked up four points in the group stage to advance in the 2026 World Cup.

Bleacher Report - Iran held New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt to draws in the 2026 World Cup.

Bleacher Report - Qatar drew with Switzerland in its opener during the 2026 World Cup.

Bleacher Report - Curaçao picked up a point by keeping a clean sheet against Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup.

Sports Illustrated - Infantino projected that FIFA expects to generate as much as $9 billion from activities in 2026 alone, more than the $7.6 billion in total revenue from the previous four-year cycle that included the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Sports Illustrated - Infantino stated that the $9 billion breaks down to include $3.9 billion from broadcasting rights and more than $3 billion in hospitality rights and ticket sales.

Bleacher Report - President Gianni Infantino stated that the expansion to 64 teams "could make sense."

Al Jazeera - Infantino confirmed that the 2026 edition is the first with 48 teams, which replaced the previous 32-team format that ran from 1998 to 2022.

Sports Business Journal - Infantino described the current 48-team format as "100 percent a success."

Yahoo Sports - Infantino mentioned that the 2030 tournament will be a multi-continent effort, with the first three matches scheduled to be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Yahoo Sports - The 2030 World Cup will celebrate the centenary of the first tournament held in 1930.

Bleacher Report - President Gianni Infantino stated that expanding the tournament from 48 to 64 teams "hasn't yet been ruled out."

Al Jazeera - Infantino confirmed that the 48-team format has been a "huge success," with nine out of ten African teams reaching the knockout stage.

Sports Business Journal - Infantino mentioned that a 64-team tournament would risk rendering many regional qualification processes meaningless.

Yahoo Sports - Infantino reiterated that the tournament should be organized for the whole world, not just Europe and South America, emphasizing that "every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup."

Yahoo Sports - FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the expansion to 64 teams "will be examined and discussed" in relevant committees after the current World Cup.

Sports Business Journal - Infantino confirmed that a 64-team tournament would mean over a quarter of FIFA's 211 member associations would compete.

Bleacher Report - FIFA is exploring the possibility of expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.

Al Jazeera - Infantino stated that the proposal to add 16 teams will be examined and discussed in relevant committees.

Sports Illustrated - Infantino called the current 48-team format a “huge success.”

Sports Business Journal - A 64-team tournament would mean over a quarter of FIFA's 210 member associations would compete.

Yahoo Sports - The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be spread across six nations.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - The first three matches of the 2030 World Cup are scheduled to be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Yahoo Sports - The 2030 World Cup will be hosted across six nations: Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Al Jazeera - The 2030 tournament will be hosted in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

Yahoo Sports - The final is set to take place at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

WHEN:

Yahoo Sports - The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to take place in 2030.

Sports Business Journal - Infantino confirmed that discussions regarding the expansion will take place after the current World Cup.

WHY:

Sports Illustrated - Infantino emphasized that expanding the tournament would allow every nation to dream of participating and noted that the quality of teams is improving globally, stating, "If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving."

Yahoo Sports - Infantino emphasized that expanding the tournament would allow every nation to dream of participating and noted that the quality of teams is improving globally, stating, "If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving."

Yahoo Sports - Infantino argued that if smaller countries are not given a chance to participate, they will lack the incentive to keep improving.

Yahoo Sports - Infantino emphasized that expanding the tournament would allow every nation to dream of participating and noted that the quality of teams is improving globally.

Bleacher Report - Infantino emphasized the importance of allowing every nation to dream of participating in the World Cup.

Al Jazeera - Infantino noted that the quality of teams is improving globally and that smaller countries need opportunities to participate to incentivize their development.

Sports Illustrated - Infantino stated that the expansion to 64 teams could unite the world and provide motivation for developing football nations.

HOW:

Yahoo Sports - The proposal for a 64-team tournament gained traction following a formal proposal from South American leaders, including Uruguayan official Ignacio Alonso and CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez.

Yahoo Sports - Infantino mentioned that the proposal for a 64-team tournament gained traction following a formal proposal from South American leaders.

Bleacher Report - Infantino mentioned that the issue of expansion will be examined and discussed in relevant committees after the current World Cup.

Yahoo Sports - The proposal for a 64-team tournament gained traction following a formal proposal from South American leaders.

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez has expressed his vision for a 64-team tournament, calling it his "dream," while FIFA president Gianni Infantino highlighted that such an expansion would allow over a quarter of FIFA's 210 member associations to compete. Infantino also noted the success of the current 48-team format, with nine out of ten African teams advancing to the knockout stage, and emphasized that expanding the tournament would inspire smaller nations to improve. The first three matches of the 2030 World Cup are set to take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, as the proposal for a larger tournament gains momentum thanks to support from South American leaders.