FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the organisation will consider a proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, a move that could increase Africa’s chances of having more representatives at football’s biggest tournament.
The proposal would add 16 more teams to the competition just four years after the World Cup was expanded from its traditional 32-team format to 48 teams for the 2026 edition.
Infantino said FIFA’s relevant committees would review the idea after the 2026 World Cup, explaining that the expansion aligns with the goal of making the tournament more inclusive.
“The World Cup is for the whole world, not just Europe and South America. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating,” Infantino said.
He added that football quality is improving across different regions and that smaller nations need opportunities to compete at the highest level to continue developing.
If approved, the 64-team format could lead to more qualification slots for each continent, potentially giving Africa additional places beyond the 10 spots allocated under the current 48-team system.
The idea was first proposed by Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso in 2025 and later supported by CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez, who said a larger tournament could help bring nations together.
The 2030 World Cup will already be a historic event, with matches scheduled across six countries and three continents. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host the opening games, while Morocco, Portugal and Spain will stage the remaining fixtures.
However, the proposed expansion has received criticism from some football leaders. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin described it as a bad idea, while CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani also questioned whether increasing the number of teams further would benefit the competition.
If FIFA approves the plan, the 2030 World Cup would become the largest edition in history, allowing more than a quarter of FIFA’s member countries to compete on the global stage.
