FIFA reportedly set to increase World Cup to 64 teams

The FIFA World Cup could be heading for another seismic shift, as football’s global governing body considers an unprecedented expansion to 64 teams for the 2030 edition.

The bold proposal, submitted by South America’s football confederation CONMEBOL, is designed to mark the centenary of the World Cup with the largest tournament ever staged. If given the green light, the move would go beyond the already controversial 48-team format set to debut at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

Meetings in New York

According to reports, discussions took place at FIFA’s New York headquarters inside Trump Tower, where FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafström held meetings with politicians and football executives from Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay — three nations with deep historical ties to the first World Cup in 1930.

FIFA has acknowledged the proposal and confirmed that it will analyze its feasibility, though no official decision has been reached. A tournament of this scale would require significant changes: more matches, an extended calendar, larger infrastructure demands, and likely multiple host nations across different continents.

UEFA Pushes Back

Not everyone is enthusiastic about the idea. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has already voiced sharp criticism, labeling the 64-team plan as “a bad idea.” Čeferin warned that such an expansion could dilute the quality of the competition, place further strain on the already congested international calendar, and create major logistical challenges for organizers, players, and clubs alike.

His concerns echo those of CONCACAF leaders, who have also expressed unease about the potential consequences on player welfare, club schedules, and the broader balance of the football ecosystem. With FIFA still preparing for the complexities of its first 48-team World Cup in 2026, critics argue that another expansion so quickly would be reckless and unsustainable.

The Bigger Picture

Supporters of the 64-team idea, however, highlight its potential benefits. The tournament would offer more nations the chance to participate on the world’s biggest stage, increase global representation, and generate enormous commercial and broadcasting revenues.

For CONMEBOL, the plan also carries sentimental weight, as the 2030 World Cup will mark 100 years since Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural tournament.

For now, the 64-team World Cup remains just a proposal, but it has already sparked a fiery debate that cuts across football politics, economics, and tradition. FIFA will have to balance the financial opportunities against the sporting integrity of the competition.

Whether the 2030 World Cup becomes the biggest ever is yet to be decided, but one thing is clear: the centenary edition is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested and politically charged tournaments in football history.