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Football is always evolving.
Once, a 32-team World Cup felt perfect. Then FIFA expanded it to 48 teams for 2026—met with skepticism at first, but eventually accepted as the new reality. Now, before a single ball has even been kicked in that format, FIFA appears to be testing the waters for another leap: a 64-team tournament for the centenary edition in 2030 is being proposed. A World Cup already set to be played across six countries and three continents might be getting even bigger.
For some, it’s a bold step—football’s biggest tournament becoming even more global. For others, it’s a cash grab that threatens to dilute what makes the World Cup special. So, is this just the next stage in the tournament’s evolution, or is FIFA pushing too far?
History shows that big changes in football don’t always get a warm reception at first.
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A few years ago, when VAR was introduced, it caused a lot of uproar. People said it would slow the game down, ruin the spontaneity, and a bunch of other things. And for a while, they weren’t wrong. But now, it’s part of the game we’ve all come to accept, even if it still has its flaws.
The introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) followed a similar path. It seemed unnecessary when it was first introduced, but now it’s taken the guesswork out of those tight offside decisions.
It’s easy to be skeptical about FIFA’s push for expansion, but there could be a solid argument for a 64-team World Cup. A bigger tournament means more chances for nations that have long been left out. We’ve seen underdog moments—Panama’s first qualification in 2018, Morocco’s semi-final run in 2022, Saudi Arabia’s upset of Argentina. Expanding the tournament would give more developing nations a shot at the big stage.
And let’s not ignore the financial perks. More games mean bigger TV deals, more sponsorship, and higher profits for FIFA. Ideally, some of that could go into grassroots football in growing nations. If football truly belongs to everyone, why should the World Cup still be limited to the same handful of countries?
Despite the potential upsides, there are valid concerns about a 64-team World Cup. The biggest worry is the potential drop in quality. Right now, the group stage is competitive, but expanding to 64 teams could lead to more one-sided matches and less intensity. The early rounds might lose their edge, making the tournament feel less gripping.
Fixture congestion is another problem. The football calendar is already overloaded, and adding more games could push players to the brink. Burnout is a real risk.
Logistics also pose a challenge. The 2030 World Cup is set to span three continents, and expanding it would only make things harder—more travel, bigger carbon footprint, and fewer fans able to follow their teams. And ultimately, the question remains: would a 64-team World Cup still feel special? Part of its appeal comes from its exclusivity, and making it easier to qualify could take that beauty away.
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So, does the whole idea actually make sense?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the World Cup to be as inclusive as possible, then expanding to 64 teams could work. More nations, more stories, and more chances for smaller teams to shine. If football is really global, shouldn’t the World Cup be too?
But if you think the tournament should be about the best teams competing at the highest level, then 64 teams might be a bit much.
History tells us that fans will likely come around to accept it, just like they did with the 48-team format and other changes. If FIFA goes ahead with 64, it’ll probably just become the new norm.
That said, there’s a fine line between growth and going too far. If FIFA misses the mark, they won’t just expand the World Cup—they’ll risk losing what makes the World Cup so special. Hence, they have to get it right.
