FIFA source quashes World Cup expansion rumours: '64 teams would damage the World Cup' | OneFootball

Rumours of a 64-team World Cup for 2030 have been dismissed by the game's governing body.

Stories had suggested that after a meeting at Trump Tower, the plan for the 2030 World Cup – to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco as well as games in South America – was to expand to 64 teams instead of the 48 to feature at the 2026 edition. That would mean 16 groups instead of 12 and more games to be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

However, The Guardian has quoted a FIFA source (with the organisation declining to make an official comment) who said: “Gianni [Infantino] would not get that vote through Council even if he wanted to.

"The overwhelming feeling around the table – and not just in Europe – is that 64 teams would damage the World Cup. There’d be too many uncompetitive matches and it would risk damaging the business model."

There are currently 211 international teams recognised by FIFA meaning that a 64-team tournament would see 30% of teams involved.