Following claims that the 48-team format has been successful, FIFA is considering including 64 contestants for the 2030 World Cup tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has opened the door for major changes to the 2030 World Cup. Following the implementation of the 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup, the global football governing body is now considering proposals to expand the tournament to 64 teams.

According to Infantino, formal discussions regarding an increase to the number of participating teams will only be held after the 2026 World Cup concludes. A full evaluation will form the basis for FIFA to define the future direction of the world's largest football competition for its next edition.

"Proposals to expand the number of participating teams will be reviewed once this current World Cup edition is completed. When organising this tournament, we must consider the interests of the entire world, not only Europe and South America," stated Infantino, as quoted by Swiss media outlet Bluewin on Sunday.

This statement reflects FIFA's commitment to opening up opportunities for more nations to compete on the global football stage.

According to Infantino, every country should have an equal chance to realise the dream of competing at the World Cup.

For this reason, expanding the number of tournament participants is considered a valid consideration, as football quality continues to improve across all regions worldwide.

48-Team Format Deemed Successful

The 2026 World Cup marked a historic milestone as the first ever edition to feature 48 participating nations. This revised format introduced additional tournament groups and a knockout stage qualification path for the best performing third-placed teams.

This change had triggered widespread debate prior to the tournament commencing. However, according to Infantino, on-pitch results have proven the new format successfully increased competitive intensity while also supporting more equal development of football standards globally.

"The 48-team World Cup format has proven to operate extremely well. Every participating nation was able to demonstrate a high standard of play," Infantino remarked, as quoted by Sky Sports.

The strong performances achieved by nations from different confederations is cited as one of the primary reasons FIFA is considering further team expansion for the 2030 World Cup.

Greater Opportunities For Nations Outside Traditional Football Powerhouses

Infantino stated that expanding the tournament roster creates more openings for countries that have historically rarely qualified for the World Cup finals.

He noted that results from the 2026 World Cup demonstrate that the competition is no longer dominated by traditional powerhouse nations from Europe and South America.

"Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one tournament point. Most notably, nine out of ten African representatives progressed to the knockout rounds. This only reinforces that every nation deserves the opportunity to compete at the World Cup," he concluded.