World football’s governing body is poised to examine a bold proposal that would double the size of the 2030 World Cup, taking the tournament from its current 48‑team format to as many as 64 teams.
The idea originated with South America’s confederation, CONMEBOL, which formally requested the expansion last year, arguing that a larger field would give more nations a chance to compete on the world stage.
If approved, the expansion would mark a dramatic shift for a competition that only four years ago made its debut with a 48‑team structure at the 2026 edition, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Opposition from Europe and Asia
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has publicly voiced his reservations, warning that diluting the tournament’s prestige could harm its commercial appeal.
His counterpart from Asia, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, echoed the concerns, questioning whether the sport’s calendar could accommodate yet another major tournament without overloading players and officials.
FIFA has responded by commissioning an independent agency to conduct a comprehensive analysis. The study will be completed by September 11, with a decision on the expansion expected by mid‑August.
Among the many dimensions under review are competitive balance, fixture congestion and the risk of market saturation. The agency will also model potential revenue streams from ticket sales, sponsorship and broadcasting rights under the enlarged format.
In parallel, FIFA is establishing a $20‑billion subsidiary designed to oversee the World Cup and related events, inviting external investors to share in the financial upside of a larger tournament.
Geographically, the 2030 edition is slated to be co‑hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, while the opening three matches will be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, a nod to the tournament’s historical roots in South America.
The plan reflects an ambitious attempt to broaden the World Cup’s reach, but the coming weeks will reveal whether the sport’s stakeholders can reconcile the desire for growth with the need to preserve the competition’s integrity.