New FIFA idea
World Cup with 64 teams: What is really on the mega plan?
Updated on 04.04.2025 – 05:34 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
After the UEFA congress, the attention of football policy is again towards FIFA. The World Association and its Boss Infantino have to deal with an absurd World Cup plan.
The expansion of the football competitions under FIFA boss Gianni Infantino accepted enormous proportions. However, the latest idea could go too far for the President of the World Association. A further inflation of the World Cup from now 48 to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament is in the room after a corresponding proposal from South America and employs the top officials.
At the session of the FIFA Council in early March, the Uruguayer Ignacio Alonso surprised his colleagues under the agenda point of various things with the proposal to expand the field of participants once again in five years by another 16 teams from 48 to 64.
Uruguay, like Argentina and Paraguay, was already awarded an opening game on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the World Cup. Then Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the co-hosts. The background could be that Alonso is hoping for more games in his home country.
The “New York Times” reported, citing the participants in the official round after the Alonso anti-advance. However, the Council has to deal with all the officially presented ideas of its members.
The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for the first time for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada as well as the introduction of the new club World Cup with 32 teams were first launched and then implemented consistently. Infantino himself is still considering, but the FIFA administration comes concerns about the practical implementation. Officially, it says: “The idea was noted because FIFA has the obligation to examine every proposal by one of its council members.”
The Europeans are easier with a judgment. Even more World Cup teams are clearly rejected. “It’s a bad idea,” said Uefa boss Aleksander Ceferin and explained: “This is not a good idea for the World Cup and not for our qualifications. I did not support this idea,” said the Slovene.
Europe is already making 16 World Cup teams. The burden on the top clubs’ burdens should not be increased further. Cefiner also complained about the robbery: “I don’t know where the idea comes from. It’s strange that we didn’t know anything before.”
The next big appointment of the football officials is the FIFA Congress in Asunción on May 15th. The next Council Meeting will also take place in the capital of Paraguay. If Infantino wants to get the idea out of the world quickly, so he does it there. If there is no clear cancellation, speculation will continue that not only the Uruguayer Alonso may find the idea of even more World Cup teams charming.
