FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on July 12 that the governing body will seriously examine expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, potentially in time for the 2030 tournament. The current 48-team format, debuting at the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, is barely broken in and FIFA is already eyeing a bigger party.
What Infantino actually said
Infantino confirmed that FIFA’s relevant committees will review the feasibility of a 64-team World Cup ahead of the 2030 edition. That tournament is set to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with centenary celebration matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The rationale is inclusivity. More slots mean more nations from Africa, Asia, and smaller football federations get a seat at the table.
The crypto connection is already live
On June 9, Kraken was officially announced as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the 2026 World Cup. A 64-team expansion in 2030 would only amplify that kind of exposure.
Then there’s the prediction market angle. Crypto-native platforms that let users wager on match outcomes have already seen substantial engagement during the current 2026 tournament. Expanding to 64 teams would add an entirely new layer of group stage matches, increasing the total number of games and, by extension, the total addressable market for prediction betting.
Fan tokens stand to benefit most
Chiliz, the blockchain platform that powers fan tokens for national teams and major clubs, is perhaps the most direct beneficiary of any World Cup expansion. During the current World Cup, Chiliz-hosted fan tokens have experienced notable volume spikes correlated with match outcomes.
Now imagine 16 additional national teams qualifying for the World Cup. Each of those nations represents a new potential fan token launch. Countries from regions like Africa and Southeast Asia, where mobile-first crypto adoption is already high, could generate outsized demand for tokens tied to their national teams.
What this means for investors
First, monitor Kraken’s FIFA relationship. If the exchange renews or expands its sponsorship for 2030, it signals that the ROI on sports-crypto partnerships is actually working.
Second, watch Chiliz and its CHZ token around major FIFA announcements. The platform’s value proposition scales directly with the number of participating teams and the intensity of fan engagement.
Third, prediction markets deserve attention as an asset class. Platforms enabling outcome-based trading on sporting events are growing rapidly, and a bigger World Cup creates a structurally larger betting surface.
The risk, as always, is execution. FIFA committees could reject the 64-team format. Crypto sponsorship deals could fall through if market conditions deteriorate. Fan tokens remain highly speculative instruments with thin liquidity outside of peak event windows.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
