The 66-team World Cup is back on the FIFA table

The first World Cup with 48 teams has not even kicked off, yet a proposal is already back on the table, with renewed momentum, to expand the 2030 World Cup – led by Spain in terms of host venues, alongside Morocco and Portugal – to as many as 66 national teams.

The proposal first emerged months ago after a request from Conmebol to widen access and make it easier for teams rarely seen at football’s elite level to compete. At the time, the idea barely went beyond an opening move, a sounding-out exercise. Now, however, it is gaining strength again through several federations.

FIFA and its leadership are beginning to view the idea as something that fits with the notion of football’s plurality. Gianni Infantino often speaks of the World Cup as a celebration, especially for countries that have never had the chance to take part. This measure would increase the opportunity for every corner of the planet to appear on football’s biggest international stage.

That opening of the door to countries that had previously lived outside the World Cup will already happen in North America, with national teams such as Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan taking part. Now, the idea taking hold in FIFA offices and in some confederations is to make the celebration even broader, with more national teams involved.

The structure of the 2030 World Cup is currently planned for 48 teams, but FIFA has not yet fully entered into the organization of the next tournament. That will not happen until after July 19, 2026, when the new world champion is crowned.

In fact, uncertainty has returned over some Spanish host cities. Málaga has already dropped off the list, while Bilbao and San Sebastián are in doubt. In any case, FIFA sets the conditions and will make the final cut as sole organizer of the event, which will also include one game each in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

For now, what has resurfaced is still only an idea and has a long road ahead before becoming reality. But what once seemed madness is no longer being treated that way. The North American tournament will serve as the stage for the debate to reopen.

What does seem to have been ruled out is holding the Club World Cup every two years. The idea that the next edition will take place in 2029 remains in place, and for now, insisting on staging the club tournament every two years is considered out of step.

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