Will the next World Cup in 2030 feature 64 teams? The FIFA President has hinted as much

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Extra Time Web Desk

The FIFA World Cup is being held in its biggest-ever format this time, with 48 teams competing in the tournament. Never before has the competition featured so many nations. From 1998 to 2022, the World Cup was contested by 32 teams. However, discussions have already begun about expanding the tournament even further, with the possibility of a 64-team World Cup in 2030.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the proposal to increase the number of participating teams as a reasonable one. He said that the relevant FIFA committees will discuss and evaluate the idea once the current World Cup concludes.

Infantino stressed that the World Cup should not be viewed as a competition exclusively for Europe or South America. Instead, he believes it should provide a global platform for nations from every continent. He pointed out that many smaller footballing nations have shown remarkable progress in the current tournament. According to him, if such teams are denied the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage, they could eventually lose motivation.

The FIFA president also hailed the expanded 48-team format as a success. He noted that every participating team has played competitive football, earned at least one point, and scored at least one goal during the tournament. He further highlighted the impressive performance of African teams, stating that nine of the ten African nations competing have qualified for the knockout stage.

Looking ahead, the 2030 FIFA World Cup will mark the centenary edition of the tournament. To commemorate the milestone, three opening matches are scheduled to be held in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Infantino also hinted that if the tournament expands to 64 teams, each of these three South American nations could potentially host an entire group of matches.