FIFA is considering expanding the World Cup again, to 64 teams, for the 2030 tournament, as they plan to celebrate the tournament's centenary.
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- World Cup approaching 100th anniversary
- FIFA considering expanding offering
- 2026 will feature 48 teams instead of 32
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Per the , FIFA president Gianni Infantino is considering expanding the World Cup once again for the centenary tournament in 2030. The 2026 tournament, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 teams for the first time, instead of 32, and the report claims Infantino is willing to add 14 more teams. The proposal came from Ignacio Alonso, a Uruguayan delegate, at a FIFA meeting, with the subject coming up during the 'miscellaneous' portion of the meeting; it was met with stunned silence.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
While the proposal is controversial, Infantino is said to be considering it. FIFA is likely to be led by financial and political benefits. However, a huge expansion to 64 teams may well render most qualification processes meaningless across the globe.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The 48-team tournament in 2026 will require 104 games to be played across the tournament and a further expansion would only bloat the schedule. Nevertheless, Infantino seems to be considering the possibility of once again tinkering with the format of a tournament that has run since 1930.
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WHAT NEXT?
The 2030 tournament already looks unwieldy, with the competition to be played across six countries; the hosts are Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, but so-called "anniversary matches" will be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
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