Fifa accelerates plan to expand World Cup to 64 teams from 2030 tournament

By Rohan Gupta — 31 July 2026 — 6 min read

Fifa is moving forward with plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams starting from the 2030 tournament. A tender has been issued to research companies to evaluate the economic benefits of this expansion on an accelerated timeline. This development comes amidst ongoing discussions about the global governing body’s strategies to reshape football.

A research brief outlines a consultation process to assess the potential increase from the current 48 teams. The selected party will have a period of four weeks to analyse the proposed expansion, with the selection scheduled for 14 August. Fifa has requested that the analysis be completed by 11 September, suggesting a decision could be made this year.

Expansion and Governance Concerns

The study raises further questions about Fifa’s governance, particularly following recent revelations about Gianni Infantino’s plans to sell portions of the World Cup to private investors. Uefa has previously stated its intention to boycott future tournaments if Fifa proceeds with this scheme. The proposal for a 64-team expansion is expected to generate additional opposition. Member associations were reportedly not informed about the tender before its issuance, which has also drawn scrutiny regarding Fifa’s governance.

The invitation to tender indicates that Fifa is “considering the strategic implications of a possible expansion of the Fifa World Cup beyond the current format.” It seeks an impact assessment concerning tournament revenue and how the change would be viewed by the “football ecosystem.” Agencies are required to submit their proposals for this research by 7 August.

Infantino had previously stated in July that an expansion would be an issue for discussion in relevant committees after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. Speculation about such a move had been increasing, with the South American governing body Conmebol, led by president Alejandro Domínguez, advocating for the expansion after the 2026 tournament.

The 2030 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with individual matches scheduled in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to commemorate the tournament’s 100th anniversary. An expansion to 64 teams would likely mean that each of these countries could host at least an entire group.

Both Uefa and Concacaf have voiced opposition to further World Cup expansion. Fifa’s decision to proceed with these plans could intensify the resistance against the global governing body. The research brief from Fifa also requests an analysis of how various stakeholders might support or resist an expansion, along with conclusions on player welfare, product quality, and the international calendar. It also asks for an estimation of revenue from ticketing, sponsorship, and media rights specifically for a 64-team format.

Potential Boycott and Host Implications

Should Fifa confirm a switch to 64 teams, the 48-team format, which debuted this summer, would have a short lifespan. Between 1998 and 2022, 32 teams competed in each World Cup. The short timeframe allocated for assessing such a significant change, which also has implications for the number of suitable future host regions, has raised concerns.

The escalating disagreement between Fifa and Uefa over Infantino’s investment proposal could lead to an unprecedented situation at the 2030 World Cup. If Fifa proceeds with its plan and Uefa implements its boycott threat, co-hosts Spain and Portugal could potentially be absent from the tournament they are scheduled to stage.

Uefa unanimously declared that its national teams would not participate in Fifa competitions “for so long as these proposals remain alive.” Fifa, however, maintains that it will continue consulting its 211 member associations regarding plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial subsidiary intended to sell a minority stake in the governing body’s commercial rights to private investors.

Uefa’s warning followed an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations, which rejected Fifa’s proposal. Uefa stated that the World Cup should not be treated as an investment product and should not be surrendered to private investors. The confederation confirmed that its national teams would not participate in Fifa competitions, extending this position to both men’s and women’s World Cups, while the proposal remains under consideration.

The implications are particularly significant for the 2030 World Cup, primarily hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. If Uefa boycotts and Spain and Portugal adhere to the confederation’s position, these two European co-hosts would not participate despite hosting the majority of the competition. This would mark an unprecedented situation in World Cup history, with principal host nations absent due to a dispute between governing bodies rather than a failure to qualify.

The position of Morocco, one of the three principal hosts for 2030, remains unclear. Unlike Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not formally declared its stance on Fifa’s investment proposal. CAF initially indicated openness to the consultation process, and Morocco has not publicly stated its support or opposition to the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise. Conmebol has also not taken an official position on the investment proposal, though its president, Alejandro Domínguez, has previously supported expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams.

The political uncertainty is compounded by Fifa’s accelerated efforts to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams. Internal documents indicate that Fifa has sought an independent assessment of the sporting, commercial, and operational consequences of a larger tournament, with the study expected to be completed before member associations vote on the FFE proposal in September. If both the FFE and the expansion are approved, the World Cup would expand to 64 teams just one edition after increasing from 32 to 48 teams in 2026. This combination of a larger tournament and the potential absence of Uefa nations would fundamentally reshape the competition, with Spain and Portugal potentially missing the opportunity to compete on home soil.

While Conmebol has supported further expansion, other confederations have expressed reservations. The AFC president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, has warned that another increase could lead to “chaos,” and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has questioned the benefits of such a move for the wider football ecosystem.

Despite growing backlash, Fifa has indicated no intention of abandoning the proposal. The governing body stated that “nobody is selling football” and rejected suggestions of World Cup privatization. Fifa explained that FIFA Forward Enterprise was proposed to allow member associations to benefit from commercial opportunities while preserving game governance. It added that while “everyone has the right to express their opposition,” “no single entity can claim to represent all 211 Member Associations around the world.” The organization stressed that the proposal is part of an ongoing consultation process, and member associations retain the power to approve, amend, or reject it. If a majority does not support the plan, Fifa’s commercial operations will remain unchanged, and FIFA Forward Enterprise will not be established.

The dispute has intensified recently, with Concacaf and the AFC also rejecting the proposal, citing undermined confidence in Fifa’s governance. Fifa also experienced an internal setback with the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who opposed the proposal “unequivocally,” describing it as “a bad deal for football.” With over 100 national associations represented by confederations that have publicly rejected the proposal, the debate has evolved beyond a commercial restructuring plan. If Fifa proceeds and Uefa follows through on its threat, the consequences could extend beyond governance, potentially reshaping the 2030 World Cup and leaving Spain and Portugal absent from the tournament they are due to co-host.

Fifa was approached for comment regarding these developments.

Source: theguardian.com