64 teams?
FIFA is looking at the possibility of things getting. In 1978, the Argentina World Cup just involved 16 national teams. By 1994 in the US, it had 24 teams. The last seven editions of the tournament had a constant 32 but this year, the field has been expanded to 48 teams.
There were discussions in 2025 for another World Cup expansion in 2030, the 100th anniversary of the tournament. Lately, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said that the proposal will be studied.
WC 2030 will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco but because it’s a centennial celebration, three opening matches will be played each in Uruguay (the 1930 host and champions), in Argentina (the second placer in 1930) and in Paraguay (where CONMEBOL head office is located).
As per Infantino, “Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. If you don’t give the smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”
The PH men’s team is still on that FIFA dream stage and 2030 could be the realization of that dream. The PH ladies already had their dreams fulfilled when they qualified for the second consecutive time for the Women’s World Cup (2023 Australia, 2027 Brazil).
To date, there are 210 teams on the FIFA men’s international side and if the 64-team format pushes thru, that would be more than one fourth of the total teams, about one out three FIFA member nation. Of course, FIFA would be happy with the revenues foreseen with a much larger tournament as this year’s edition had an estimated income of more than $10 billion.
If the 64-team format goes thru, football analysts say that the most feasible set-up would be 16 groups of four teams, playing a total of 96 group stage matches that will take about two weeks. The top two teams in each group will advance to the round of 32. This would bring to 128 total number of games.
It would be very welcome for football fans, especially for those nations who will qualify for the very first time but a logistical nightmare for hosts as more FIFA-standard stadiums will be needed for additional matches as well as suitable training bases for all 64 teams. This year’s host cities, except maybe for Los Angeles and New York-New Jersey, have all reported net losses.
Of course, there are people opposed to the idea. EUFA, CONCACAF and AFC heads are one in saying that it is a bad idea as it damages the exclusivity of the World Cup and weakens the quality of the matches because of the entry of low-level talents. Reality bites but if FIFA will have its way, which usually does, let’s hear it from the Beatles when they sing, “When I’m 64.”
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