FIFA is reportedly considering further expanding the 2030 World Cup ahead of hosting the first expanded 48-nation tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for next year, will be the first of its kind as 48 nations will participate, more than the 32 in previous editions since 1998.

According to FIFA.com, Europe has 16 automatic slots, Africa has nine slots, and Asia has eight slots.

North America has six slots, including the three hosts. South America was allotted six automatic slots and Oceania one slot, while the remaining two slots would be decided via the intercontinental playoffs.

18 countries have qualified for the tournament, including defending champions Argentina, who finished top of the CONMEBOL qualifying table.

FIFA considers expanding 2030 World Cup

According to The Athletic, FIFA has received a formal recommendation to have 64 teams at the 2030 World Cup ahead of the first 48-nation tournament next year.

Uruguayan Football Association President Ignacio Alonso first presented the idea during the FIFA Council in March, much to the surprise of those present.

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez presented it again at a meeting held at FIFA's New York headquarters inside Trump Towers on Tuesday, September 24, 2025.

There were several top football dignitaries and politicians from South American countries Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay in attendance, excluding Argentine President Javier Millei.

CONMEBOL wants a one-off 64-nation tournament for the centenary celebration of the first World Cup hosted and won by Uruguay in 1930.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly open to this after Dominguez cited an analogy of how a person's 49th and 51st birthdays are celebrated differently from the 50th birthday.

“I want to underline the words of Alejandro. He told all of us to think about how we can really celebrate it in the way it deserves to be celebrated. So, every idea is a good idea,” Infantino said.

FIFA faces opposition from UEFA and CONCACAF, whose presidents, Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani, have dismissed it as a bad idea.

The 2030 World Cup is already a huge tournament with 48 teams expected to participate in the tournament across three continents, six countries, and 19 stadiums.

Morocco, Portugal, and Spain won the hosting rights, but in honour of the centenary celebration, FIFA extended some hosting rights to Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Uruguay will host one match as the host and winner of the first tournament, Argentina, for reaching the final, and Paraguay, for being the home of CONMEBOL, which was the only existing confederation in 1930.

If the 64-team expansion is ratified, the tournament would have grown by 48 teams since the last 16-team was held in 1982.