Is the 'Money-Making World Cup' Scaling Up Even More? Football World Abuzz Over 64-Team Expansion Proposal

"More Nations Involved" vs. "Declining Match Quality"

The World Cup is preparing to scale up once again. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which previously increased the number of teams in the main tournament from 32 to 48, is now considering expanding the format to 64 countries. While FIFA claims this would allow more nations to pursue the "World Cup dream," the move is also expected to generate enormous economic benefits, including increased broadcasting rights and sponsorship revenues due to a greater number of matches. On the other hand, concerns are mounting over potential side effects of a "mega World Cup," such as diminished tournament exclusivity, declining competition quality, player exhaustion, and skyrocketing hosting costs.

According to international football sources on July 14, FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently stated in an interview with Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport that the organization will consider expanding the number of World Cup finalists to 64 teams starting from the 2030 tournament. President Infantino remarked, "After the North and Central America World Cup concludes, this will be a matter for thorough discussion within the relevant committee."

Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

President Infantino's main rationale is the "globalization" of the World Cup. He emphasized, "The World Cup should be a tournament not just for Europe and South America, but for the entire world," adding, "Every country should have the opportunity to dream of participating in the World Cup."

FIFA believes that expanding the pool of participating nations could improve the competitiveness of non-European and non-South American countries. President Infantino cited as a key success example the upcoming North and Central America World Cup, where nine out of ten African teams will advance to the knockout stage under the new 48-team format. Given that only five African teams qualified for the previous tournament, the argument goes that broadening participation can strengthen both the football base and the level of competition. On the economic front, a 64-country World Cup presents an attractive proposition for FIFA. The total number of matches would reach 128, double the 64 matches held under the 32-team format. More matches translate directly into increased broadcasting rights, advertising, sponsorship, and ticket sales. Nations making their first appearance on the main stage would also drive up demand for television and digital content. Additionally, FIFA expects to draw consumers from emerging football markets in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East deeper into its ecosystem.

Host countries are expected to see expanded local consumption, particularly in tourism, lodging, dining, and transportation. For countries like the United States, which already have large stadiums and robust transportation and hospitality infrastructure, this offers a unique opportunity to maximize the economic impact of a super-sized sporting event.

However, it remains uncertain whether such quantitative expansion will result in qualitative growth. With 64 teams, nearly one-third of FIFA's member nations would reach the main tournament, potentially diluting the exclusivity and "premium" that used to come with World Cup qualification. The growing gap in team strength could lead to more one-sided matches. While the number of matches rises, diminished excitement during the group stage may erode the value of each individual fixture, resulting in "content inflation." In addition to the expansion of European leagues, continental club competitions, and the enlarged FIFA Club World Cup, scaling up the World Cup itself can only increase player fatigue and the risk of injury.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.