World football could be on the verge of its biggest transformation in history.
FIFA has officially begun the process of evaluating a possible expansion of the men's FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, with the proposal targeting the 2030 World Cup, the tournament that will celebrate the competition's 100th anniversary. The governing body has confirmed it will commission an independent study to assess whether such an expansion is feasible before making any final decision.
From 32 to 48... and Now 64?
The World Cup has already undergone a major expansion.
After featuring 32 teams from 1998 to 2022, the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico became the first edition with 48 participating nations.
Now, only weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 tournament, FIFA is already examining the possibility of taking another major step by increasing the field to 64 teams for the centenary edition in 2030.
Why 2030?
The proposal is closely linked to the unique nature of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will mark 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930.
The tournament will be primarily hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each stage one centenary match to commemorate the competition's origins. FIFA believes the anniversary could provide an opportunity to include more nations than ever before.
What Will FIFA Study?
According to documents seen by Reuters, FIFA has not approved the expansion yet.
Instead, the organization will appoint an independent agency to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the proposal. The study will examine several key areas, including:
The impact on the international match calendar.
Tournament scheduling and logistics.
The availability of stadiums and host cities.
Competitive integrity and the overall quality of the competition.
Commercial and financial implications.
Potential benefits of allowing more countries to participate.
The selected agency is expected to deliver its findings within a few weeks, after which FIFA's leadership will review the conclusions before deciding whether to move forward.
A Divisive Proposal
The idea of a 64-team World Cup has already divided opinion across the football world.
Supporters argue that expanding the tournament would give more nations the chance to compete on football's biggest stage, particularly countries from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Caribbean.
Critics, however, fear that another expansion could reduce the tournament's competitive level, place even greater demands on players and clubs, and create major logistical challenges for organizers.
No Final Decision Yet
Despite today's announcement, FIFA has not officially approved a 64-team World Cup.
The governing body has only confirmed that the proposal is now entering a formal evaluation phase. Once the independent report is completed, FIFA will decide whether the historic expansion should become reality for the 2030 tournament.
If approved, it would represent the largest World Cup in history and another landmark change in the evolution of international football.
Sources:
📰 Reuters
📰 FIFA
📰 Forbes