FIFA’s latest proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams has reignited concerns about the future of football’s most prestigious tournament.
The suggestion, put forward by Uruguayan Football Federation president Ignacio Alonso, was met with silence and skepticism from most FIFA member associations—except for Gianni Infantino, who described it as “interesting” and worthy of further examination.
As football increasingly becomes a testing ground for expansion and commercialisation, many are questioning whether the World Cup is losing its sporting integrity.
An expanding tournament, A shrinking prestige?
The proposed increase follows FIFA’s previous decision to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2026.
The next tournament is already set to be spread across three nations—Mexico, the United States, and Canada—making it the largest and most logistically complex edition in history.
However, the 2030 tournament is set to go even further, with six host nations: Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Now, the possibility of raising the number of participating teams to 64 has emerged, allegedly to mark the tournament’s centenary with greater inclusivity.
While FIFA presents this expansion as a way to involve more nations and enhance global football development, critics argue that it dilutes the competition.
The World Cup has long been the pinnacle of international football, a stage reserved for the sport’s elite.
Increasing the number of teams raises concerns about lower-quality matches and a more congested schedule, potentially diminishing the tournament’s prestige.
Infantino’s vision: Innovation or overreach?
Under Gianni Infantino’s leadership, FIFA has aggressively pursued reforms aimed at increasing football’s global reach and commercial appeal.
We asked ChatGPT to list all 64 countries that would play in the 2030 FIFA World Cup if the format expands to that number 🌍🏆
FIFA is considering expanding the format to 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup 👀
Do y’all think this format is a good idea? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Kqamnn8eUl
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 6, 2025
The proposed World Cup expansion is part of a broader trend that includes the introduction of an expanded Club World Cup and discussions around making the World Cup a biennial event rather than every four years.
FIFA has justified these moves by citing greater inclusivity and financial opportunities for emerging football nations. However, critics see them as a cash-driven strategy that prioritises revenue over sporting integrity.
A 64-team World Cup would result in more matches, increasing television rights deals and sponsorship opportunities, but it also risks turning the tournament into an overly extended spectacle that loses its competitive essence.
The changing face of football
Beyond just format changes, FIFA’s approach seems to be embracing a more Americanised model of sports entertainment.
Infantino has suggested incorporating elements such as a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the 2026 World Cup final—an idea that has been met with widespread criticism.
For many traditional football fans, these initiatives represent a departure from the sport’s roots in favour of commercial spectacle.
While football has evolved over time—such as the introduction of three points for a win in 1994 and the ban on goalkeepers handling back-passes—these changes were fundamentally about improving the game itself.
In contrast, FIFA’s recent proposals appear to be driven more by business interests than by the sporting merit of the competition.
A World Cup at a crossroads
The debate over a 64-team World Cup is emblematic of a larger conflict within football: the balance between expanding the game’s global appeal and preserving the competitive nature of its most cherished tournaments.
As FIFA pushes forward with its reforms, the footballing world must decide whether these changes enhance the sport or risk turning its greatest spectacle into a bloated, commercialised event.
For now, the football community watches closely as FIFA continues to reshape the game’s future—one expansion at a time.
