FIFA Launches Study Into 64-Team World Cup

FIFA has formally begun examining the possibility of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams for the tournament’s centenary edition in 2030, despite only recently introducing a 48-team format for the 2026 competition. The world football governing body is preparing to appoint an independent research organisation to assess whether another major expansion would be practical, sustainable and beneficial for the sport.

According to a document obtained by Reuters, the independent study will evaluate the likely impact of increasing the number of participating nations from 48 to 64. The assessment will cover several key areas, including the tournament’s sporting quality, commercial value, operational requirements and long-term viability. Rather than focusing solely on financial gains, FIFA wants the research to determine whether such an expansion would strengthen the World Cup without undermining its competitive balance or creating excessive logistical challenges.

The 2026 World Cup marked the first edition to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32. The expanded format resulted in more groups, additional knockout fixtures and a larger overall tournament schedule. While that new structure has only recently been implemented, FIFA is already exploring whether the competition could be enlarged even further for the historic 2030 edition.

The proposal for a 64-team World Cup was first put forward by South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, last year. The confederation argued that the centenary tournament would provide a unique opportunity to include more nations than ever before, allowing a greater number of football associations to participate in what will be a landmark edition of the world’s biggest sporting event.

FIFA’s research brief states that the appointed organisation will be responsible for determining the overall consequences of expanding the tournament from 48 to 64 teams. The study will examine whether the larger format would enhance the competition or whether potential drawbacks would outweigh the benefits.

Among the issues expected to be assessed are the effect on the standard of competition, the increasing demands of the already congested international football calendar, the logistical complexity of staging a significantly larger tournament and the commercial implications for broadcasters, sponsors and host organisers. The researchers are also expected to consider whether expanding the field would place additional pressure on football’s global calendar and tournament infrastructure.

The governing body has also made it clear that financial considerations alone will not determine the outcome. The final report is expected to assess not only whether a larger World Cup could generate additional commercial revenue, but also whether that value would be sustainable over the long term. Any recommendation will therefore need to balance sporting integrity with commercial opportunity and operational feasibility.

FIFA has announced that the independent organisation responsible for conducting the research will be selected on 14 August. Once appointed, it will have just four weeks to complete its analysis and submit a comprehensive report by 11 September.

The findings are expected to play an important role in FIFA’s decision-making process as it considers whether the 2030 FIFA World Cup should remain a 48-team competition or become the first edition in history to feature 64 participating nations. The outcome of the study could have significant implications for the future structure of international football’s most prestigious tournament.

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