FIFA is contemplating a significant change for the 2030 World Cup, with discussions underway to potentially expand the tournament to 64 teams. This proposal, brought forth by Ignacio Alonso, a delegate from Uruguay, is under review by FIFA officials. The 2030 World Cup, marking the centenary of this prestigious sporting event, will be hosted across Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has acknowledged the proposal. He emphasized the need for a detailed analysis of the potential expansion. The decision-making process regarding this proposal is anticipated to consider not only sporting benefits but also financial and political aspects.
"FIFA was likely to be guided by financial and political benefits as much as sporting ones when it came to taking a decision on the matter," said three people in the meeting.
The upcoming World Cup will be a landmark event as it marks 100 years since the inaugural competition took place in Uruguay. In recognition of this historic milestone, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will host three matches during the tournament. This gesture pays homage to the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930.
A recent statement from a FIFA spokesperson shed light on how the proposal emerged during a meeting:
"A proposal to analyze a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member in the 'miscellaneous' agenda item near the end of the FIFA Council meeting held on March 5, 2025."
This proposal comes on the heels of FIFA's decision to expand the number of teams in next year's World Cup to 48, an increase from the previous 32. The tournament will be hosted in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The prospect of expanding the 2030 World Cup is seen as a significant development for FIFA, promising to enhance its status as a major global sporting event. Discussions are ongoing, with stakeholders considering various implications of such an expansion.
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