FIFA is considering expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. This would mark the competition’s 100th anniversary.
According to documents seen by Reuters, football’s governing body will begin a formal review of the proposal on 14 August. An independent organisation will be asked to assess whether the expansion is workable. Its findings are due by 11 September, before FIFA decides whether to take the idea any further.
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The proposal came from South America’s football confederation, CONMEBOL. It believes the centenary World Cup should include more nations than ever before.
The review will look at far more than simply adding another 16 teams for the next tournament. FIFA wants to understand what a 64-team tournament would mean for the quality of the competition and player welfare. The review will also consider the already crowded international calendar, and the practical challenges of staging an even bigger event. Furthermore, it will assess the financial impact, including broadcasting rights, ticket sales and sponsorship.
The idea is already proving divisive. The first 48-team World Cup has yet to be played, with that expanded format only due to make its debut in 2026. Even so, FIFA is now weighing up whether the tournament should grow again just four years later.
Not everyone thinks that’s a good idea
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has previously described the proposal as “bad”, arguing that continually expanding the tournament could dilute its quality and prestige. Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has also raised concerns. He warned that adding more teams would put even greater pressure on players and an already packed fixture schedule.
The findings of the review will help FIFA decide whether a 64-team World Cup would bring enough sporting and commercial benefits to justify another expansion. Otherwise, the new 48-team format should remain in place.
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will each stage one match as part of celebrations marking 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930.
Featured image via the Canary
By Alaa Shamali
