FIFA President Weighs 64-Team World Cup For 2030

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that FIFA “will examine expanding the World Cup by a further 16 nations to a 64-team tournament ahead of its next edition in 2030.”

Infantino in an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin, confirmed that talks “would take place over the proposed format after this summer’s tournament.”

The FIFA president stated that expanding the World Cup to 48 teams for this edition was “100 percent a success.”

A 64-team tournament would see over a quarter of FIFA’s 210 men’s international sides compete and “would risk rendering many regional qualification processes meaningless”

Infantino, who wants to be re-elected for a final term as head of the world game next year, has come under global scrutiny after he bowed to Donald Trump’s wishes to waive US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.

European associations rose up in indignation, with suggestions Uefa and other confederations could seek to find a “white knight” challenger for the four-year term.

Infantino’s admission that he is open to discussions about extending the World Cup from what already felt like a bloated 48-team tournament is a clear signal that he feels a need to elicit support from potential waverers.

The Swiss has always indicated that he did not believe that going to 64 teams was viable – although it would mean only 24 more matches than the 104 games at this tournament.

Now, though, his tune has changed.