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FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup
FIFA Dünya Kupası 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup

July 13, 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the 2030 World Cup should be expanded to 64 teams. He stated that small countries should also take part in this big tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup

According to Sports.

Background

Infantino draws attention to the universality of football, arguing that the World Cup should be organized not only for Europe and South America, but also for the whole world. While Portugal, Spain and Morocco are among the countries where the 2030 World Cup will be held, group matches will also be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. While this situation increases the historical and cultural importance of the tournament, it also supports expansion discussions.

Why this matters

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's call to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams is considered an important step for the future of the tournament. This expansion can contribute to the global development of football by enabling smaller countries to take part in the international arena. As Infantino emphasizes, every country's dream of participating in the World Cup is of critical importance for the universality of football.

Key Takeaways

  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino, 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup.
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the 2030 World Cup should be expanded to 64 teams.
  • FIFA boss Gianni Infantino makes case for expansion of World Cup to 64 teams in 2030 - Yahoo Sports.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the 2030 World Cup should be held with 64 teams. Just before the end of the first World Cup, in which 48 teams participated, Infantino had an interview with Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport to share his thoughts on the subject. "This is an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino said.

Infantino emphasized that the organization of the World Cup should be done not only for Europe and South America, but for the whole world. "Every country should have the dream of participating in the World Cup. The quality of the teams is very high worldwide and is increasing. If small countries are not given a place in the World Cup, they will not have any motivation for their development," he said.

The 2030 World Cup will be officially organized jointly by Portugal, Spain and Morocco. However, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930, three group matches will be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay within the scope of the tournament. This centenarian celebration will take place in six countries on three different continents. For Infantino, this presents an opportunity to further expand the tournament.

Infantino did not mention anything in the interview about the additional teams and additional revenue the matches would bring. The current World Cup is held in North America, with 48 teams participating and this version featuring 104 matches. The previous seven World Cups were hosted by France in 1998, with 32 teams playing 64 matches.

The history of the World Cup is full of expansion processes, ranging from 13 to 24 teams from the first tournament in 1930 until 1994. With the revenue generated by 40 additional matches, the current World Cup has been a huge success on the field. Competitive matches and high viewer interest were evident with packed stadiums from the group stage to the quarter-finals.

It can be said that this World Cup, despite the controversies, was a great success. For Infantino, now is the time to call for the expansion of the tournament. However, this expansion idea is not supported by everyone.Like the expansion of the NCAA tournament and College Football Playoff in the US, criticisms are that the expansion would devalue the years-long World Cup qualifying season and erode the quality of the product on the field. UEFA President and FIFA Vice President Aleksander Čeferin had harshly opposed this idea when it first came from a Uruguayan delegate in 2025. "This proposal was perhaps more of a surprise to me than it was to you," Čeferin said at a press conference held in Belgrade, Serbia. "This is a bad idea. It is not a good idea for the World Cup and it is not a good idea for our qualifying stages."

What happens next

Infantino's proposal will be reviewed and discussed by the organizing committees of the 2030 World Cup. This process will pave the way for important decisions to be made on how the format of the tournament will be shaped. In addition, the group matches to be held within the framework of the celebrations of the 2030 World Cup may further increase the expansion potential of the tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Gianni Infantino say about the 2030 World Cup?

Gianni Infantino stated that the 2030 World Cup should be held with 64 teams.

Who approved this expansion idea?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed the idea of this expansion.

Why has the 64 team proposal come to the fore now?

Infantino shared his thoughts on this issue shortly before the end of the first World Cup, in which 48 teams participated.

What changes will happen in the 2030 World Cup?

The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco, and according to Infantino, this presents an opportunity for further expansion of the tournament.

What did Infantino say about the revenue the additional teams would bring?

In his interview, Infantino did not mention anything about the additional teams and additional revenue the matches would bring.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Gianni Infantino, 2030 Dünya Kupası hakkında ne söyledi?
Gianni Infantino, 2030 Dünya Kupası'nın 64 takımla düzenlenmesi gerektiğini ifade etti.
Bu genişleme fikrini kim onayladı?
FIFA Başkanı Gianni Infantino, bu genişleme fikrini dile getirdi.
Neden şimdi 64 takım önerisi gündeme geldi?
Infantino, 48 takımın katıldığı ilk Dünya Kupası'nın sona ermesine az bir süre kala bu konudaki düşüncelerini paylaştı.
2030 Dünya Kupası'nda ne gibi değişiklikler olacak?
2030 Dünya Kupası, Portekiz, İspanya ve Fas tarafından düzenlenecek ve Infantino'ya göre bu, turnuvanın daha fazla genişletilmesi için bir fırsat sunuyor.
Infantino, ek takımların getireceği gelir hakkında ne dedi?
Infantino, röportajında ek takımlar ve maçların getireceği ek gelir hakkında herhangi bir söz etmedi.
What happened in this story?
FIFA Başkanı Gianni Infantino, 2030 Dünya Kupası'na 64 takım summarizes the main development covered in this report.
Who confirmed this news?
See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.
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