The possibility of an unprecedented 64-team FIFA World Cup has moved a step closer after FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the proposal will be discussed following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
The idea, which would significantly expand football’s biggest competition just one edition after it increased to 48 teams, gained fresh momentum after CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez publicly backed the plan for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The 2030 edition holds special significance as it marks the centenary of the tournament, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay set to host commemorative matches as part of the celebrations.
Dominguez believes the 100th anniversary of the FIFA World Cup deserves a unique celebration, proposing that the tournament should feature more nations than ever before.
“In 2030, the World Cup comes to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, a great opportunity for football, to celebrate the World Cup Centenary with a 64-team tournament,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The proposal would represent another landmark moment in FIFA history, coming only four years after the governing body introduced the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
If approved, the 2030 competition would become the largest World Cup ever staged, offering more national teams the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
While FIFA has not committed to the expansion, President Gianni Infantino acknowledged that the governing body is prepared to evaluate the proposal through its official decision-making process.
“This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” said Infantino speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport.
His comments suggest the proposal is no longer just an idea but one that could receive formal consideration within FIFA’s governing structures in the coming months.
Infantino also explained why expanding the World Cup remains an attractive option for football’s governing body.
According to the FIFA president, the tournament should represent every continent rather than remain dominated by traditional football powers.
“When you organize a World Cup, it’s important that you organize it for the whole world. It’s not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup,” he continued.
The FIFA chief believes increasing participation can help accelerate football’s development across emerging nations by giving more countries a realistic pathway to qualify.
He added: “We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it’s getting higher and higher everywhere in the world. If you don’t give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already demonstrated the impact of expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, with more nations earning qualification and new football markets enjoying greater representation.
A further increase to 64 teams would dramatically reshape qualification formats, scheduling, logistics and tournament structure.
It would also create additional opportunities for countries that have historically struggled to reach the World Cup.
Supporters argue the move would make football’s biggest competition more inclusive and accelerate the sport’s growth worldwide.
Critics, however, have questioned whether another expansion could dilute the quality of the tournament and place additional strain on players and the international calendar.
With the 2030 FIFA World Cup set to celebrate 100 years since the inaugural tournament in Uruguay, FIFA now faces a landmark decision that could redefine the competition for generations to come.
For now, the proposal remains under consideration, but Infantino’s confirmation ensures the debate over a 64-team World Cup is firmly underway.
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