The 2026 tournament was expanded from 32 to 48 teams, introducing four additional groups and a new knockout stage.
Last year, the South American confederation CONMEBOL officially proposed hosting the 2030 World Cup with 64 teams, enabling more nations to participate in the festivities for the tournament’s centenary celebration.
FIFA intends to hire an independent agency to evaluate how expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 participating nations, starting in 2030, could affect the tournament’s format, as mentioned in a research brief.
This expedited study follows FIFA’s initiative to establish a $20-billion subsidiary for managing the World Cup and other events with external investors, a strategy that has faced criticism and led UEFA to decide to boycott FIFA events.
The assessment aims to determine if the expansion could enhance the tournament or if worries such as competition dilution, scheduling conflicts, operational challenges, and market saturation might outweigh the potential advantages.
“The final recommendation should clarify not only if a 64-team tournament can deliver additional value but also if that value is sustainable,” the document stated. FIFA indicated that a decision regarding the agency’s selection will be made on August 14, with only four weeks allocated to complete their analysis by September 11.
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, while Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each will host one match to commemorate the tournament’s 100th anniversary.
