The FIFA World Cup began its journey in 1930, and in 2030, the tournament will mark its 100th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone in a special way, FIFA is considering expanding the tournament to 64 teams.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with additional matches being held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Uruguay hosted the first-ever World Cup in 1930, where the final was played between Uruguay and Argentina, while Paraguay also participated in that inaugural edition. Each of these three South American nations will host one match in the 2030 World Cup to honor the tournament’s centennial celebration.
A FIFA official stated, “A proposal has been made to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams in celebration of its 100th anniversary. This was discussed in the March 5 meeting. However, it is not yet confirmed whether this expansion will happen.”
Traditionally, the FIFA World Cup has featured 32 teams since the 1998 France World Cup, with the 2022 Qatar World Cup marking the final edition with 32 teams. However, the 2026 World Cup—to be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada—will already see an expansion to 48 teams.
