Could the Next World Cup Have Even More Teams? FIFA Is Thinking About It

The Biggest World Cup Ever (So Far)

This year’s World Cup is the largest in history. Here’s what that means in simple terms:

• A record 48 teams are playing in the tournament.
• When this was announced, some people pushed back (were not happy at first).

Why Some People Were Worried

At first, not everyone liked the idea of 48 teams. Two common worries were:

• The World Cup should be selective (only the very best should get in).
• The quality of the games might get worse with more teams.

Both of those points were true to some extent. But guess what? The 48-team version has won a lot of people over!

Why the Bigger Tournament Won People Over

The bigger format created some amazing stories. For example:

• Cape Verde reached the knockout rounds (the second stage of the tournament) and did themselves proud.
• Curaçao won hearts with their passion, excitement, and awesome jerseys (kits).
• If the tournament had stayed small, some of the best storylines would never have happened.

Important Point: Without the extended format, we might have missed some of the most fun and inspiring moments of this World Cup.

FIFA Wants to Make It Even Bigger

Because the 48-team event went well, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is thinking about adding even more teams.

When asked by a Swiss outlet (Bluewin) about a possible 64-team tournament, he said:

"That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup."

He also explained why including more nations matters:

• The World Cup should be for the whole world, not just Europe and South America.
• Every country should be allowed to dream of playing in the World Cup.
• The quality of teams everywhere is getting better and better.
• If smaller countries don’t get a chance, they lose the incentive (reason/motivation) to improve.

What’s Planned for 2030?

Here is what we know about the next World Cup:

• The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
• The first three matches will be played in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
• This is to celebrate 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay.

Also:

• CONMEBOL (the group that runs South American soccer) has already suggested making the 2030 tournament have 64 teams to celebrate the 100-year mark.

Not Everyone Is Excited

A bigger tournament has pros and cons. Some benefits:

• More money (financially).
• A bigger legacy (long-lasting positive impact).

But there are downsides too:

• The tournament already has 104 games, so it takes much longer.
• Players who go far in the tournament get very little rest before their regular club seasons start.
• Players probably won’t be thrilled about even more games.

Important Point: Expanding the World Cup could be good for the world game, but it may also tire out the players even more.

Where Things Stand Now

This idea is still very early. The big question is:

Can you have too much of a good thing?

For now, we just have to wait and see what happens.

Summary

• This year’s World Cup is the biggest ever with 48 teams.
• The bigger size created great stories like Cape Verde and Curaçao.
• FIFA is considering a 64-team World Cup in the future.
• The 2030 event will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with opening games in South America.
• CONMEBOL already proposed 64 teams for 2030.
• Some worry about player fatigue and longer schedules, while others see money and legacy benefits.
• The plan is still new, and we don’t yet know if bigger is always better.

FAQ

What is the current number of World Cup teams?

This year’s World Cup has 48 teams, which is the largest ever.

Who decides if the World Cup gets bigger?

FIFA and its committees discuss changes, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino supports looking into it. CONMEBOL has also made a proposal.

Why do some people like the bigger tournament?

Because it lets more countries dream, improves small nations’ motivation, and creates fun new storylines like debut teams doing well.

Why are some people against 64 teams?

Because the event is already long (104 games), and players get little rest, so more teams could mean even more fatigue.

When will we know if the World Cup expands?

FIFA said the idea will be discussed after this World Cup, so a final decision is still in the future.