FIFA to examine 64-team World Cup for 2030. What could that mean for TV rights?

Key Points:

• FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament will be reviewed after the 2026 event, which is the first to feature 48 teams.
• The 2030 World Cup is planned to be hosted across six countries on three continents, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay each hosting a commemorative match to honor the inaugural 1930 tournament; a 64-team format could allow these nations to host entire groups.
• A 64-team tournament would increase the total matches from 104 under the 48-team format to 128, providing FIFA with additional broadcast inventory to sell, potentially attracting more media partners including both traditional networks and streaming platforms.
• Broadcast rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are expected to be highly competitive, with estimates suggesting FIFA could command $1.5 billion to $2 billion per tournament, significantly higher than the current rights fees.
• Any decision to expand to 64 teams must be made soon, as qualifying schedules for the 2030 World Cup in confederations like CONCACAF and UEFA are already set based on a 48-team format, and FIFA needs clarity before negotiating broadcast deals.