FIFA's Expansion Plan Could Benefit Africa
July 12, 2026FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Credit: Arise News. FIFA has confirmed it will consider expanding theFIFA World Cupto 64 teams from the 2030 tournament, a move that could give Africa more places. . .
July 12, 2026FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Credit: Arise News. FIFA has confirmed it will consider expanding theFIFA World Cupto 64 teams from the 2030 tournament, a move that could give Africa more places at football’s biggest competition. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that FIFA PresidentGianni Infantinodisclosed this in an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin, saying the proposal would be discussed after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “It is definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino said. If approved, the expansion would add 16 more teams to the tournament after the 2026 World Cup, increasing the number of participating nations from 32 to 48. Infantino said the proposal fits FIFA’s vision of making the World Cup more inclusive. “The World Cup is for the whole world, not just Europe and South America. ”“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high — and it’s getting higher and higher all over the world. “If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving,” he said. FIFA World Cup Trophy. Credit: FIFA. The proposed expansion could increase the number of qualification slots for every continental football body, includingAfrica, which currently has 10 places under the 48-team format. Infantino also defended the 48-team World Cup, describing it as “100 percent a success” despite criticism from some coaches and football officials. The idea of a 64-team tournament was first raised by Uruguayan football official Ignacio Alonso during a FIFA Council meeting in March 2025. It later received support from CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, who said a larger tournament in 2030 would “unite the world, just once. ”The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be staged across six countries on three continents. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host the opening matches, while Morocco, Portugal and Spain will stage the rest of the competition. However, the proposal has faced criticism from some football leaders like UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani. If approved, the 64-team format would become the biggest expansion in World Cup history, allowing more than a quarter of FIFA’s 210 member associations to compete. Deborah Akwa is a content writer with over four years of experience creating brand stories, editorial content, and audience-focused articles on topics like health, lifestyle, and entertainment. When she isn't writing, she is behind the scenes managing editorial operations and helping the content team work better. She loves using words to connect brands with their audiences. Outside of work, she enjoys watching movies and engaging in thought-provoking conversations. Share the Story2030 FIFA TournamentFIFA World CupGianni InfantinoRead more