FIFA accelerates review of 64-team World Cup expansion

A leaked FIFA document has revealed that Gianni Infantino’s organisation has commissioned an independent consultancy to assess whether the World Cup should be expanded to 64 teams from the 2030 tournament.

The study is intended to help FIFA reach a rapid decision on the proposed new format, just months after the 2026 World Cup becomes the first edition to feature 48 teams.

The move comes as tensions grow between the football confederations, which are already divided over a number of strategic issues. The latest dispute centres on a proposal described as the “sale of the World Cup”, which has generated intense debate since the start of the week.

According to the official document, the appointed consultancy will examine whether increasing the tournament from 48 to 64 teams would affect the World Cup’s market value and the wider football system, as well as assessing the nature of any such impact.

Its work will include an assessment of the expected revenue from an expanded tournament. It must also provide a detailed analysis of the consequences for brands, broadcasters, supporters, media companies, national and continental associations, leagues, clubs and other organisations involved in the sports industry.

The document says the study must “assess market interest, commercial opportunities and the risks of market saturation”. It also allows the use of consumer or fan data where that information provides useful insight, but says such research “must not form the core of the study”.

Instead, the project is expected to maintain “a primarily B2B – business-to-business – approach”.

FIFA has set an unusually tight schedule for the work. The successful consultancy is due to be appointed on 14 August, after which it will have only four weeks to deliver its findings.

The deadline for the report is 10 or 11 September, ahead of 19 September, the final date in the process for the sale of World Cup hosting rights.

That timetable means the football world could know before the end of the summer whether the sport’s most prestigious international tournament is set to expand again, this time to 64 nations.

The decision is being considered against a particularly strained political backdrop. FIFA continues to push strongly for expansion, while several major continental confederations remain opposed or cautious about the direction being taken by the world governing body.

UEFA is regarded as the most prominent opponent of the proposal. Concacaf, the Asian Football Confederation, the Confederation of African Football and the Oceania Football Confederation have also expressed reservations, although their positions differ on the wider range of initiatives currently being promoted by FIFA.

The review into a 64-team World Cup is taking place alongside a separate controversy surrounding plans to establish the FIFA Forward Foundation and allow private investment in the World Cup.

That proposal has added to the existing divisions and could lead to an open confrontation between FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich and football authorities in other parts of the world.