FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reportedly abandoned plans to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 participating nations, bringing an end to speculation about another major change to the tournament’s format.
According to reports by British newspaper The Times, Infantino has informed the presidents of FIFA’s six continental confederations that he would no longer pursue further expansion of the men’s World Cup if he secures another term as FIFA president in March 2027.
The proposed expansion was initially championed by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) as part of plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030.
However, the proposal faced opposition from several football governing bodies, including the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), amid concerns about tournament organisation, player welfare, international fixture congestion and the overall competitiveness of the competition.
The decision means the 2030 World Cup is now expected to retain the 48-team format, which will make its debut at the 2026 tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 2030 edition will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will stage special matches to commemorate the centenary of the competition.
CONMEBOL had hoped that expanding the tournament to 64 nations would provide more countries with an opportunity to participate in the historic celebration.
Infantino’s reported change of position also comes amid growing pressure surrounding his leadership and the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
However, FIFA has yet to issue an official statement confirming the withdrawal of the proposed expansion.
For now, football fans can expect the 2030 FIFA World Cup to proceed with 48 participating nations rather than the proposed 64-team format.
