AS: FIFA is seriously considering a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 66 teams

According to a report by AS, FIFA will discuss the proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 66 teams.
Before the inaugural 48-team World Cup has even kicked off, the proposal to further expand the 2030 World Cup to 66 teams has resurfaced and gained new momentum. This tournament will be jointly hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, with Spain serving as the host for the majority of the matches.

This proposal first emerged a few months ago. After CONMEBOL expressed its desire to open the doors for more teams—giving nations that rarely appear on the elite football stage a chance to compete—FIFA and its top brass began to seriously consider the idea. President Infantino has consistently emphasized the celebratory significance of the World Cup, especially for those nations that have never had the opportunity to participate. This move would provide every corner of the globe with a chance to showcase themselves on the grandest stage.
This trend of opening doors to nations previously excluded from the World Cup is already about to play out at the upcoming North American World Cup, with national teams like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan set to make their debut. The idea gaining support within the offices of FIFA and the continental confederations is to include more national teams to make this celebration more complete.

The structure of the 2030 World Cup was originally planned for 48 participating teams. However, FIFA has not yet fully launched the organizational work for the next World Cup; this process will only begin after the new world champion is crowned on July 19, 2026. It is worth noting that there is still uncertainty regarding some of the Spanish host cities. Malaga has been ruled out, and the status of Bilbao and San Sebastian remains undecided. In any case, the final decision rests entirely with FIFA. Additionally, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will each host one match.

Currently, this is still just a preliminary concept, and there is a long way to go before it becomes a reality. However, an idea once considered crazy is no longer viewed as such. The upcoming North American World Cup will serve as an opportunity to further debate this proposal.
As for the idea of holding the Club World Cup every two years, it appears to have been ruled out. The plan for the next Club World Cup to be held in 2029 will proceed as originally scheduled, and it is currently considered inappropriate to stick to a biennial format.

Source: AS