World Cup blowout: FIFA considers mammoth 64-team tournament for 2030

FIFA is considering expanding the 2030 tournament to 64 teams, according to the Argentine sports outlet Olé. The organization is expected to back a proposal from the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, to increase the number of participants.

The World Cup, marking the 100th anniversary of the first tournament, was originally set to be hosted mainly by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. To commemorate the centenary, FIFA awarded one match each to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay — the nations associated with the inaugural 1930 World Cup.

But South American officials want more than a symbolic role. Their proposal calls for a full 64-team tournament, giving each of the three South American host nations an entire group stage to host. The remaining matches would be played in Europe and Africa.

If adopted, the format would feature 16 groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

Notably, the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, will be the first to feature 48 teams. Whether that number will jump to 64 in 2030 remains uncertain.