A bold vision for 2030
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has floated the idea of expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 national sides, a move that would double the tournament’s current 32‑team format and build on the recent shift to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. The proposal is framed as a way to give more nations the chance to compete on football’s biggest stage and to accelerate the development of the sport worldwide.
The 2030 edition would be staged across six countries — Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal and Spain — marking the first World Cup to be hosted on three continents. That geographic spread would allow South American fans to see their teams play in full group matches rather than a single knockout fixture, a prospect that excites officials in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Asunción.
The plan has not been welcomed universally. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin called the expansion “a bad idea,” warning that it could dilute the tournament’s prestige, while CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani echoed the sentiment, describing it as “not a great idea.” Their concerns center on the potential strain on regional qualification pathways and the risk of over‑commercialising the competition.
The proposal also revives memories of an earlier FIFA discussion about holding the World Cup every two years, a concept that was shelved after strong opposition. If adopted, the 2030 tournament would represent a watershed moment for global football governance, reshaping how the sport’s governing bodies balance inclusivity with tradition.