FIFA Considers Controversial 64-Team Format for 2030 World Cup
WHO:
The Daily Star - FIFA, the governing body of world soccer
The Daily Star - South American confederation CONMEBOL
The Daily Star - UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin
The Daily Star - Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
WHAT:
WION - FIFA has launched a fast-track consultation and commissioned an impact assessment covering tournament revenue, sponsorship, broadcasting rights, ticket sales, player welfare, scheduling, and the international football calendar.
WION - Expanding to 64 teams could allow South American host nations to stage full group-stage matches instead of only ceremonial opening fixtures.
The Daily Star - FIFA is studying the expansion of the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams for the 2030 edition.
The Daily Star - FIFA plans to appoint an independent agency to assess the impact of the proposed expansion.
The Daily Star - The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches over more than five weeks.
WION - The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be primarily hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
WION - Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will host one match each for the centenary celebration.
WHERE:
The Daily Star - The 2030 World Cup will be hosted in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
WION - Opening matches for the centenary will take place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
WHEN:
The Daily Star - A decision on selecting the independent agency will be made on August 14.
The Daily Star - The agency will have four weeks to deliver their analysis by September 11.
WHY:
The Daily Star - FIFA aims to determine whether expanding the tournament can strengthen it or if concerns like competition dilution and operational complexity outweigh potential benefits.
The Daily Star - CONMEBOL proposed the 64-team format to allow more countries to participate in the centennial celebrations.
HOW:
The Daily Star - The final recommendation from FIFA's proposed analysis should demonstrate whether a 64-team tournament can generate incremental value and whether that value is sustainable.
The Daily Star - FIFA's proposed analysis will cover the impact on competition, competitive balance, qualification, player welfare, and the international calendar.
The Daily Star - The study will estimate potential revenues from ticket sales, sponsorship, and media rights under the new format.
FIFA has initiated a fast-track consultation and commissioned an impact assessment that will evaluate various aspects of the tournament, including revenue, sponsorship, broadcasting rights, and player welfare. The expansion to 64 teams could enable South American host nations to hold full group-stage matches rather than just ceremonial opening fixtures. The final recommendation from FIFA's analysis is expected to reveal whether a 64-team tournament can create additional value and if that value can be sustained over time.