FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that discussions regarding the expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams will take place before the 2030 tournament. In an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino emphasized the importance of making the World Cup accessible to nations around the globe, rather than limiting participation to Europe and South America.

Expansion Considerations

Infantino stated, “That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup.” He believes that allowing more countries to participate would inspire smaller nations to improve their footballing standards. “Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup,” he added, highlighting the increasing quality of teams worldwide.

Success of the Current Format

The current World Cup format, which features 48 teams, is being praised by Infantino as a “huge success.” He noted that every team has performed well, with teams from all continents scoring goals and earning points. Infantino pointed out that nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage, a significant improvement from the previous World Cup, where only five African teams advanced.

The upcoming 2030 World Cup will be a multi-continent event, with initial matches set to take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, before moving to Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Should the expansion to 64 teams be approved, it could allow South American nations to host entire groups instead of just single matches.