FIFA Considering 64-Team Expansion for 2030 World Cup to Mark Centenary Celebrations

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FIFA is reportedly exploring the possibility of expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams as part of centenary celebrations for football's most prestigious tournament, according to a report by The New York Times on Thursday.

The 2030 edition is set to be hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay - the country that hosted the first-ever World Cup in 1930 - staging three matches to commemorate the tournament's origins.

FIFA has already expanded the competition from 32 to 48 teams, a format set to debut in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

According to The New York Times, the latest proposal for a further expansion to 64 teams was put forward by Uruguayan delegate Ignacio Alonso at the end of a recent meeting. The report stated that the suggestion was initially met with "stunned silence" by those in attendance.

The newspaper, citing three individuals present in the meeting, reported that FIFA is likely to consider financial and political factors alongside sporting implications when evaluating the proposal. It further added, based on insights from four people with direct knowledge of the discussions, that FIFA President Gianni Infantino found the idea intriguing.

"Mr. Infantino ... described the proposal as an interesting one that should be analysed more closely," The New York Times quoted.

With FIFA already making significant changes to the tournament's structure in recent years, the possibility of a further expansion for the landmark 2030 edition remains an open discussion within the organization.