FIFA is considering expanding the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams, which would include more than a quarter of its member associations.
The idea was discussed during Wednesday’s miscellaneous discussions at the Fifa council meeting. 
The New York Times reported that the delegate was Ignacio Alonso, president of Uruguay’s football association. 
Among three South American nations, Uruguay will host a centennial celebratory match in 2030. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has committed to a deeper exploration of the proposal.
A Fifa spokesperson told the Guardian it had a duty to consider all requests from council members: “A proposal to analyze a 64-team Fifa World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the Fifa World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a Fifa council member in the ‘miscellaneous’ agenda item near the end of the Fifa council meeting held on 5 March 2025. 
FIFA recognized the idea because they’re obligated to review proposals from their council members.
Since his 2016 election as Fifa president, Infantino has been determined to expand the influence of football’s most desirable prize. 
A plan for a biennial World Cup failed; however, the 2026 World Cup (hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the US) will expand to 48 teams and 104 matches.
Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 tournament, with commemorative matches held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. 
Including 16 extra teams would present significant logistical hurdles for the hosts; the tournament’s length, potentially exceeding six weeks, is a prime example. More questions would arise about the environmental impact of such an event.
The political complexities of a more significant World Cup expose the competing national and confederation priorities.
A rise in South American participants might eliminate qualifying rounds, impacting national associations’ match revenues and potentially qualifying half of UEFA’s 55 nations. 
Expanding the number of participating nations in the World Cup would likely be well-received in Asia, Africa, and Oceania, leading to several countries making their tournament debuts.