Gianni Infantino delivers new update on 64-team World Cup plans for 2030

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reiterated he is keen for the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco to have 64 teams.

This would add an extra 16 nations into the tournament, where there will also be games in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, on the back of this year’s expansion to 48 sides.

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The current edition is the first time so many international teams have taken part at the finals stage.

It’s seen the number of games being played increase from 64 to 104.

There were concerns about the newest expansion – the first since 1998 – however it has so far gone well.

Worries about uncompetitive matches dissipated rapidly with only eight having a winning margin of 4+ goals, so far.

Sides like Cape Verde, who almost knocked out reigning champions Argentina, proved their credentials at the tournament.

And Infantino believes the 48-team iteration should be celebrated.

Asked if it has been a success, he told Swiss outlet Bluewin: “Yes, 100 per cent! It’s been a huge success with 48 teams.

“Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage.

“At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams to give them this opportunity to participate.”

Even before the tournament started, Infantino had floated the idea of a further expansion to 64 teams in 2030.

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A likely format would see 16 groups of four with the top two from each forming the knockout phase starting at a round of 32.

This would mean a total of 128 games – 24 more than in 2026.

It is qualification that would see the biggest change and many feel, as they did before the current edition, it would dilute the quality of teams reaching the finals.

But Infantino remains keen on exploring the possibility for the centenary edition of the tournament.

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

“When organising a World Cup, it’s important to organise it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world.

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“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.

“You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high — and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world.

“If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”

Infantino has been widely criticised at the World Cup.

His close ties to US president Donald Trump have concerned some onlookers.

This came to the fore with the controversial decision by an independent panel to suspend American striker Folarin Balogun’s ban for a red card ahead of the round of 16.

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It led to a public trading of statements with the Belgian FA as Trump himself personally intervened to question the suspension of his nation’s star player.

Asked if he had received any feedback from Trump, he replied: “Yes, we’re in touch regularly. Almost every day – he’s happy and really enjoys the tournament. He watches all the games on TV.”

Trump hasn’t been present at any World Cup matches yet, but Infantino insists that’s because he’s busy being President.

However, he insists it’s still planned for them to present the trophy to the winner together on Sunday, July 19.

Infantino insisted: “Yes, hopefully we’ll present the trophy together in the final.

“That’s always been the plan — and that’s how it’s always been done in the past — for the president of the country hosting the final to present the trophy together with the FIFA president.”