FIFA President Gianni Infantino told Swiss news platform Blue News that the organisation’s relevant committees will discuss the potential expansion following the current World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino argued that including more teams gives “smaller countries” an “incentive to keep improving” and described the expansion from 32 to 48 teams as “100 percent” successful, pointing to nine of ten African teams advancing from the group stage.
The 2030 World Cup, marking the centenary edition, will be hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with some matches in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
Key Points:
Larger tournament could increase participation opportunities for African and Asian nations.
More matches may generate additional revenue but strain host infrastructure and player welfare.
Smaller footballing nations gain development incentives and global visibility.
Proposal signals FIFA’s continued prioritization of commercial and geographical expansion.
Timing matters as the 2026 tournament’s success strengthens Infantino’s case for further growth.
The football world will watch how FIFA balances expansion ambitions against concerns about match quality, player workload, and logistical feasibility.
