World Cup officials will examine a proposal to expand the tournament from 48 to 64 teams ahead of the 2030 edition, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said. Oil prices Crude jumps as US-Iran strikes fuel Strait of Hormuz tensions Speaking to Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino said FIFA’s relevant committees would discuss the proposal after the conclusion of the current World Cup. He said expanding the tournament could help make football more inclusive by giving more countries a realistic opportunity to qualify. Infantino argued that the World Cup should represent the entire world rather than only traditional football powers in Europe and South America. He added that broader participation would encourage smaller nations to invest in the sport and continue improving. The World Cup featured 32 teams from 1998 to 2022. FIFA increased the field to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament, which Infantino described as a major success. He said every continent had produced competitive performances, with teams from around the world scoring goals and earning points. He also noted that nine of the 10 African teams reached the knockout stage, compared with five African representatives at the previous World Cup. Four teams — Argentina, England, France and Spain — remain in the current tournament, with only the semi-finals and final left to play. The 2030 World Cup will span three continents. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host one opening match before Morocco, Portugal and Spain stage the remainder of the tournament. If FIFA approves a 64-team format, the expanded competition could allow the South American hosts to stage full group-stage matches instead of hosting only one opening fixture each. Post navigation Spain Merino’s late winner sends La Roja into World Cup semi-finals
