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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Will Castle

Gianni Infantino gives fresh update on potential World Cup expansion for 2030 tournament

Gianni Infantino World Cup Fifa
  • Gianni Infantino has opened discussions regarding a potential expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams, following what he considers the successful implementation of the 48-team format at the current tournament.
  • The Fifa president justified further expansion when speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport by stating it would allow more nations to participate, foster global football development, and acknowledge the rising quality of teams across the world.
  • While the South American federation Conmebol has formally proposed a 64-team World Cup for 2030, leaders from Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation, and Concacaf have voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about potential chaos and negative impacts on the broader football ecosystem.
  • Infantino also defended the controversial introduction of hydration breaks, attributing them to heat conditions, and justified the high ticket prices by highlighting near-full stadiums and expert-determined pricing strategies.
  • The Fifa president projected that the 39-day World Cup is expected to generate between 13 and 14 billion Swiss francs, a financial outcome he described as “quite satisfactory”.

IN FULL

Gianni Infantino hints at expanding World Cup again to 64 teams

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