Berlin, 7 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Football governing body FIFA is analysing a proposal to increase the number of teams in the 2030 World Cup to 64 for a one-off expansion to mark the centenary of the competition, the federation told dpa on Thursday.

The proposal was made toward the end of a board meeting on Wednesday.

The 2030 World Cup will take place in Spain, Morocco and Portugal, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay were awarded one game each to commemorate the centenary of the tournament, which was first played in Uruguay in 1930.

The tournament on three continents is already considered to be highly complex and possibly of questionable sporting value. Nevertheless, FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised to analyse the proposal for 16 additional teams in more detail, according to the New York Times.

"The idea was noted. FIFA is obliged to consider any proposal made by one of its council members," FIFA said.

The New York Times said that three people with knowledge of the meeting described the reaction to the proposal from others present as stunned silence.

Infantino has already overseen the expansion of the World Cup once during his nine-year tenure, bringing the number of teams up to 48 from 32 at the next edition in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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