An Idea Whose Time Has Not Come: 64-Team World Cup Shelved Indefinitely

The idea of a 64-team World Cup is an idea whose time has not come—and may never come. FIFA’s firm rejection of the proposal for the 2030 tournament has shelved the concept indefinitely, signaling that the global football community believes it has found the right balance with the 48-team format.
The proposal was formally presented by a South American delegation, who saw the centenary of the tournament as the perfect moment for a bold leap forward. They argued for a more inclusive and grander event.
However, the idea failed to find a receptive audience. The timing was poor. The football world is still preparing for the massive logistical and competitive shift involved in moving from 32 to 48 teams in 2026. There is no appetite for planning another, even more radical, change before the first one has even been implemented and assessed.
The opposition from the FIFA Council and key confederation heads was not just a rejection of the number 64; it was a rejection of the timing. The consensus is that the 48-team format needs to be given a chance to breathe and establish itself over several tournament cycles. Only then can a clear-headed evaluation be made about whether further expansion is desirable or feasible.
By taking the 64-team idea off the agenda, FIFA is effectively placing it in a deep freeze. It’s a recognition that radical ideas require the right political and sporting climate to succeed. For the 64-team World Cup, that climate is nowhere in sight.