FIFA is considering a groundbreaking proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, a move that would bring nearly a third of the organization’s 211 member associations into the global finals.
The idea was put forward by Uruguayan FA president Ignacio Alonso during a FIFA Council meeting, with the aim of making the centennial edition of the tournament even more historic. The 2030 World Cup, already set to be unique with matches across three continents—Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as primary hosts, plus opening games in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay—could become the biggest in history if the proposal is approved.
“A proposal to analyse a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member… FIFA has a duty to analyse any proposal from one of its council members,” a FIFA spokesperson confirmed.
The next World Cup in 2026, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will mark the first expansion to 48 teams. If the 2030 edition grows even further, it would signal a dramatic shift in FIFA’s vision for the future of the tournament.
Source: TheDotNews