FIFA Weighs Expanding 2030 World Cup to 64 Teams
FIFA is studying whether to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 teams to 64, according to newly leaked documents. If adopted, the tournament would add 16 teams on top of the expansion to 48 teams scheduled for the 2026 World Cup. FIFA plans to commission an independent organization to assess the proposal. If implemented, the move would radically reshape one of the world’s most influential sporting events during the centennial celebration of the World Cup. In a research brief, FIFA said it wanted an independent organization to evaluate “how and to what extent expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams starting in 2030 would affect the overall value of the tournament.” Cailian Press reported last year that the South American Football Confederation, or CONMEBOL, had formally proposed a 64-team format for the 2030 World Cup so more countries could participate in the tournament’s centennial celebration. The World Cup that just concluded, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, was the first since 1998 to move beyond the 32-team format. The expansion to 48 teams added four groups and one knockout round, increasing the tournament’s total number of matches to 104 and extending the schedule beyond five weeks. After the United States-Mexico-Canada World Cup ended, FIFA said total revenue for the tournament’s 2023-2026 commercial cycle exceeded $15 billion, well above the pre-tournament expectation of $11 billion. FIFA’s planned study will assess whether expansion can increase the value of the World Cup or whether potential gains would be offset by diluted competition, a more crowded schedule, greater operational complexity and market saturation. The study will examine the effects of a 64-team World Cup on tournament quality, competitive balance, the qualifying system, player welfare and the international match calendar. It will also assess potential revenue growth from ticket sales, sponsorships and media-broadcasting rights under the new format. “The final recommendation should not only explain whether a 64-team World Cup can create additional value, but also assess whether that value would be sustainable,” the document said. FIFA said it will select the organization responsible for the study on Aug. 14. The winning organization must submit a complete analysis by Sept. 11, or within four weeks. The accelerated study comes as FIFA plans to establish a subsidiary valued at $20 billion to operate the World Cup and other competitions and bring in external investors. The plan has sparked controversy and led UEFA to decide to boycott FIFA-related activities. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said last year that expanding the World Cup to 64 teams was “not a good idea,” and UEFA continues to hold that position. Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also publicly opposed the proposal last year and questioned how far the World Cup could continue expanding before the process stopped.
FIFA plans to commission an independent organization to assess the proposal. If implemented, the move would radically reshape one of the world’s most influential sporting events during the centennial celebration of the World Cup.
In a research brief, FIFA said it wanted an independent organization to evaluate “how and to what extent expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams starting in 2030 would affect the overall value of the tournament.”
Cailian Press reported last year that the South American Football Confederation, or CONMEBOL, had formally proposed a 64-team format for the 2030 World Cup so more countries could participate in the tournament’s centennial celebration.
The World Cup that just concluded, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, was the first since 1998 to move beyond the 32-team format. The expansion to 48 teams added four groups and one knockout round, increasing the tournament’s total number of matches to 104 and extending the schedule beyond five weeks.
After the United States-Mexico-Canada World Cup ended, FIFA said total revenue for the tournament’s 2023-2026 commercial cycle exceeded $15 billion, well above the pre-tournament expectation of $11 billion.
FIFA’s planned study will assess whether expansion can increase the value of the World Cup or whether potential gains would be offset by diluted competition, a more crowded schedule, greater operational complexity and market saturation.
The study will examine the effects of a 64-team World Cup on tournament quality, competitive balance, the qualifying system, player welfare and the international match calendar. It will also assess potential revenue growth from ticket sales, sponsorships and media-broadcasting rights under the new format.
“The final recommendation should not only explain whether a 64-team World Cup can create additional value, but also assess whether that value would be sustainable,” the document said.
FIFA said it will select the organization responsible for the study on Aug. 14. The winning organization must submit a complete analysis by Sept. 11, or within four weeks.
The accelerated study comes as FIFA plans to establish a subsidiary valued at $20 billion to operate the World Cup and other competitions and bring in external investors.
The plan has sparked controversy and led UEFA to decide to boycott FIFA-related activities. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said last year that expanding the World Cup to 64 teams was “not a good idea,” and UEFA continues to hold that position.
Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also publicly opposed the proposal last year and questioned how far the World Cup could continue expanding before the process stopped.