FIFA is looking ahead to future editions of the FIFA World Cup, and it has been revealed that bosses are considering an expansion for the second straight tournament in 2030.
Next summer’s World Cup across the Americas will already be the biggest in history, with 48 teams competing at the finals across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
However, further changes could be made to the number of teams involved for the 2030 tournament, with FIFA considering allowing 64 teams to compete at the competition.
It would be a radical change to the world-famous competition, with the total number of nations making up more than a quarter of the 211 member associations.
Sweeping Changes to Format
The inclusion of 64 teams is likely to be a big talking point as we build up to next summer’s tournament, with the first idea being brought up at the FIFA Council at the beginning of March.
The idea was brought up by Uruguayan Football Association delegate Ignacio Alonso, and it was greeted fondly by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. It has since been regarded that the idea will be explored further over the coming month.
Infantino has been looking for ideas to expand the competition since being made head of the governing body in 2016, and the expansion to 64 teams would see the world-famous World Cup reach new levels of popularity across the world, with the extra spots giving nations that wouldn’t typically play in the competition the opportunity to do so.
Is The World Cup Already Too Big?
The latest rumors surrounding the number of teams involved in the World Cup come just over a year before the biggest edition of the tournament to date is staged. Next summer’s tournament will see 48 nations involved, seeing the total number of matches rising from 64 to 104 when compared to the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
The latest rumors haven’t gone down well across the world, with there being political issues to address in qualifying areas such as South America. An increase in the number of teams involved will mean the end of qualifying rounds, which could negatively impact some of the smaller associations within the region.
Huge revenues will typically be picked up by the smaller nations during these rounds. It is also likely to be a decisive issue in Europe, with any changes likely to see over half of the 55 associated UEFA nations likely to secure a place at the World Cup.
That could lead to the end of competitive qualification campaigns. However, it is likely to be received more positively in regions such as Asia, Oceania, and Africa, as an expansion will see a number of nations handed the opportunity to make their first appearances at the World Cup in the near future.
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One-Off Edition
It is worth noting that the idea of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams is purely a one-off edition idea that was put forward by the delegate from Uruguay.
The 2030 World Cup will be a special edition of the tournament, as it is the centenary renewal of the competition. But, at a time when players are already complaining about the workload, more matches in a single edition of the World Cup isn’t likely to go down well.
FIFA has already come under fire in recent months with the new Club World Cup taking place this summer, meaning that players from across Europe will have limited off-time during the break in-between seasons in 2025.
The logistics of the 2030 World Cup are also likely to be an issue for many countries, as the six-week tournament will be competed across three continents. Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina will also host special matches as part of the centenary celebrations, with the opening match played in the former, before fixtures switch to the other two South American nations.
Following the opening round of matches, the tournament will then move to North Africa for the first time, as Morocco will host matches. Fixtures will also be played across Europe, with Spain and Portugal hosting matchups. Travel will be the main concern for players and coaches, while it could also marginalize fans who are looking to follow their respective nations at the tournament.
Could It Happen?
As is typically the case when it comes to FIFA and the World Cup, the money generated from potential changes will be at the heart of their final decision. More changes will give sponsors a bigger opportunity to invest in the World Cup, meaning that it is more likely than not to happen.
There is no date for a final decision currently mentioned, meaning that an update is likely to arrive over the summer when FIFA delegates meet up during the Club World Cup.
