Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will formally examine a proposal to enlarge the men’s World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition, a move that would double the size of the tournament within two cycles. Speaking to the Swiss outlet Bluewin, the FIFA president said the matter “will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” framing the expansion as a logical next step after the 48-team format introduced in 2026. Infantino described the current tournament as “a huge success,” noting that teams from every continent scored and earned points, and that nine of ten African sides reached the knockout stage — up from five in 2022. “If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving,” he said.

The idea of a 64-nation finals was first floated in March 2025 by Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association, during a FIFA Council meeting. It gained momentum later that year when Alejandro Domínguez, the CONMEBOL president and a FIFA vice-president, publicly endorsed it as a “dream” that would “unite the world, just once.” South American officials view the expansion as a way to give Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay — who are each scheduled to host only a single opening match in the six-nation 2030 tournament — a more substantial role, potentially a full group stage each. The proposal has since been backed by the African and Asian confederations, whose 101 votes would be decisive in Infantino’s expected re-election bid in 2027.

Opposition has been sharpest in Europe. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has labelled the plan a “bad idea,” warning it would damage both the tournament’s quality and the European qualifying process. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said it “doesn’t seem right” and would harm “the whole football ecosystem.” Asian football chief Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has also expressed reservations, saying further expansion would bring “chaos.” The 2030 co-hosts — Spain, Portugal and Morocco — are firmly against any late change, as their planning is already advanced for a 48-team event.

Infantino’s intervention comes as the 2026 World Cup enters its final week, with semi-finals featuring three European sides and Argentina. The FIFA president used the interview to defend other controversial aspects of the tournament, including hydration breaks — which he acknowledged had sparked “a lot of debate” — and high ticket prices, pointing to 99.7% stadium occupancy and a resale market where tickets fetch four to five times face value. He projected total revenue of 13 to 14 billion Swiss francs from the 39-day event.

The FIFA Council will take the final decision on the 64-team format, but no timeline has been set. The debate is expected to begin in earnest after the 2026 final, with the outcome likely to reshape the qualifying pathways for all confederations and test the logistical capacity of the six host nations already committed to a tournament spread across three continents.