Overview
- On Sunday, July 12, 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the organisation will have its committees examine a proposal to expand the men's World Cup from 48 to 64 teams after the current tournament ends.
- The 2030 finals remain scheduled across six nations on three continents with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay hosting initial matches and Morocco, Portugal and Spain staging the bulk of games.
- The proposal has strong backing from South American figures who first raised the idea, including Ignacio Alonso and CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez, while UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani have publicly opposed further expansion.
- Proponents say a larger field would boost global inclusion and commercial revenue, and critics counter that it would dilute qualification and lower competitive quality, a concern voiced after the move from 32 to 48 teams for 2026.
- Committees will review format details such as group sizes, continental slot allocations and calendar impact, and their findings could reshape qualification paths and hosting leverage for future World Cups.