Football’s biggest stage could be ready for its most radical transformation yet, as new proposals for expanding the 2030 World Cup are back on FIFA’s table.
Although the 2026 tournament has already expanded to 48 teams, world football leaders are now discussing an even bigger step: moving to a gigantic 66-team format.
As the football world prepares for the first 48-team World Cup, to be held in North America, the governing body is looking even further ahead. According to AS , a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to a full 66 teams has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks.
Originally suggested by CONMEBOL to expand access to the elite level, what was once seen as an overly radical idea is now being taken seriously by some member federations.
The FIFA hierarchy, led by Gianni Infantino, is increasingly seeing this expansion as a way to promote representation and plurality.
Infantino has often described the tournament as a global celebration, and a 66-team format would offer countries that have never participated in the World Cup a more realistic route to the biggest stage.
With the 2026 edition expected to bring in debutants such as Cape Verde, Curacao, Uzbekistan and Jordan, the appetite for a wider list of participants is also growing at FIFA headquarters.
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The 2030 edition is currently scheduled to be hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with additional symbolic matches in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
However, an expansion of this measure would put tremendous pressure on infrastructure and organization.
Although the official plan, for now, remains at 48 teams, FIFA is not expected to fully finalize the organizational structure until after the champion is announced on July 19, 2026.
