The expansion would see the number of teams increase from 48 in the 2026 World Cup to 64 in 2030, with the potential for more teams in the future. This would lead to a significant increase in the number of games, with 96 group stage matches and 32 knockout stage matches. The group stage would last nearly 23 days, with the full tournament potentially lasting 45 days.
The expansion would also lead to changes in the way teams qualify for the World Cup. The current system, where teams qualify through regional competitions, would be replaced by a system where teams would qualify through a combination of regional competitions and a playoff system. This would lead to more teams qualifying for the World Cup, but also make the qualifying process less competitive.
The expansion would also have significant economic impacts, with the commercial value of the World Cup potentially decreasing. The qualifying process would also be affected, with teams potentially focusing more on the World Cup itself and less on regional competitions.
The expansion would also raise concerns about player welfare, with the increased number of games potentially leading to player burnout. The FIFPRO organization, which represents players' unions, has expressed concerns about the workload of professionals and the potential impact on player welfare.
The expansion would also require significant infrastructure investments, with the need for more stadiums and training facilities. The current 16 stadiums used in the 2026 World Cup would not be enough to host a 64-team tournament, with the need for at least 19 stadiums.
The next step for FIFA is to finalize the plans for the 2030 World Cup, including the number of teams, the qualifying process, and the infrastructure needed to host the tournament.