Assessing the future of the world’s premier football competition
FIFA has confirmed that it is examining the possibility of expanding the World Cup from its current 48‑team format to as many as 64 teams for the 2030 edition.
The proposal, detailed in a research brief seen by Reuters, would fundamentally reshape the tournament’s structure and could alter the way qualifying campaigns are organised across continents.
Why the change matters
According to the brief, the expansion would not be decided in isolation; instead, FIFA intends to commission an independent agency to evaluate the feasibility, financial implications and competitive balance of a larger field.
The study will look at how additional slots might affect the density of matches, the scheduling of continental championships and the overall commercial appeal of the event.
Stakeholders from national federations, commercial partners and broadcasters are expected to weigh in as the review progresses, with the aim of delivering a report before the next cycle of FIFA’s council meetings.
If the expansion is approved, it could open new markets, increase representation from under‑represented regions and generate additional revenue streams, but it also raises questions about the tournament’s prestige and the workload of participating teams.