FIFA is considering a major reform for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. The world football governing body is reportedly considering increasing the tournament from 48 to 66 teams, with the aim of further expanding the representation of global football.
The idea of a 66-team World Cup, which seemed improbable a few months ago, is now the subject of more in-depth internal discussions within FIFA. After increasing the number of participants from 32 to 48 for the 2026 edition, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, FIFA is considering a further increase in the number of teams.
According to the Spanish media outlet Diario AS, this reform aims to strengthen "pluralism in football" and offer greater visibility to nations that are usually absent from the world stage. An increase in the number of participants would give more countries the opportunity to participate in the world's biggest football competition.
However, a move to 66 teams raises significant sporting, logistical, and economic questions. The infrastructure of the host countries would be under immense pressure, and questions would arise about stadium capacity, travel schedules, and match calendar congestion.
Alongside these discussions on the World Cup format, UEFA is proposing an overhaul of the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup and the 2032 European Championship. The new format, inspired by the Champions League's Swiss system, aims to create more competitive matches and reduce the number of one-sided encounters. The top 36 European teams would be divided into three groups of 12, with each team facing six different opponents.
It remains to be seen whether the proposal for a 66-team World Cup will be officially validated by FIFA. The world football governing body has not yet made a final decision and is expected to carefully consider the implications of such a change. FIFA's final decision will largely depend on the success of the 48-team 2026 World Cup.
