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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has officially confirmed that world football’s governing body will evaluate the possibility of expanding the World Cup to a 64-team format. Looking ahead to the 2030 edition, which is set to be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, Infantino indicated that an additional 16 nations could be included in the competition.

Infantino advocates for global participation

Although the World Cup is yet to debut its expanded 48-team structure in the 2026 finals hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Infantino is already setting his sights on a broader vision for the next tournament cycle.

As it stands, the 2030 World Cup is planned to feature 48 teams, with Morocco, Portugal, and Spain as the main hosts. In a symbolic gesture marking the competition’s centenary, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay are scheduled to host the opening matches. However, a recent proposal from South American representatives has prompted FIFA to reconsider whether the scale of the tournament should be increased further.

“A 64-team tournament is definitely something that will be studied and discussed by the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino told Swiss media outlet Bluewin. Emphasising the organisation’s global mission, the FIFA chief declared that the World Cup should be “for the whole world, not just Europe and South America.”

Encouraging dreams among smaller nations

Infantino’s vision is rooted in the idea that expanding the tournament would inspire emerging football nations to invest more in the sport’s development.

“Every country should have the chance to dream of playing in the World Cup. The quality of football worldwide is rising rapidly, and we can see that the level of competition is higher than ever,” Infantino remarked.

He further explained that giving smaller nations the opportunity to qualify provides a critical incentive for them to continue improving. “If smaller countries are denied the chance to participate, they lose the motivation to progress,” he said.

Referring to the upcoming 2026 tournament, Infantino described the 48-team expansion as “100 percent a success,” arguing that the performance of lower-ranked sides validates the move.

South American push and logistical considerations

The 64-team idea gained momentum following a proposal from Uruguayan official Ignacio Alonso, which was later supported by CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez. Dominguez, who has long championed the idea, called the expansion his “dream” and said it would “unite the world, just once.” Under the existing 48-team plan, the three South American nations are scheduled to host one match each, but a 64-team setup could allow them to stage entire group phases.

This change would hold particular significance for South America, given FIFA’s rotational hosting system. Since the 2030 event already includes the continent, South American nations would be unable to bid for primary hosting duties again until 2042.

Criticism and warnings over 'vulgar' football

Despite FIFA’s enthusiasm, the idea of a 64-team World Cup has drawn sharp criticism from senior football figures. Opponents argue that increasing the number of teams undermines the prestige of qualification and threatens to reduce the overall quality of the tournament. Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz was especially forthright, claiming that the latest expansion had made the competition “vulgar and ordinary.”

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani have also expressed their reservations. Ceferin dismissed the 64-team plan as a “bad idea,” warning that it could damage the exclusivity and heritage of international football.