- Gianni Infantino says FIFA will consider expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament.
- The FIFA president believes every nation should have the opportunity to dream of qualifying for football’s biggest competition.
- The proposal remains divisive, with Concacaf and UEFA previously voicing opposition to further expansion.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed the governing body will discuss the possibility of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 edition, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already the largest in the competition’s history, increasing from 32 to 48 participating nations.
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said the proposal for a further expansion will be considered by FIFA’s decision-making bodies after the tournament.
“This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino said.
“When you organize a World Cup, it’s important that you organize it for the whole world.”
“It’s not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively.”
“Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup.”
“We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it’s getting higher and higher everywhere in the world.”
“If you don’t give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving.”
The possibility of a 64-team tournament first emerged in March 2025 when South American governing body CONMEBOL proposed expanding the 2030 World Cup, which will celebrate the competition’s centenary.
Later that year, Infantino met CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez alongside representatives from the football associations of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to discuss the proposal.
Domínguez said at the time: “We believe in a historic 2030 World Cup.”
“We want to call for unity, creativity and believing big.”
“Because when football is shared by everyone, the celebration is truly global.”
The proposal has received mixed reactions across world football.
Concacaf president Victor Montagliani previously questioned whether another expansion would benefit the international calendar.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues and players,” Montagliani told ESPN in April 2025.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has also criticised the proposal, previously describing a 64-team World Cup as “a bad idea.”
If approved, the expanded format would feature 128 matches, doubling the total played under the 32-team structure used between 1998 and 2022. The 2026 World Cup will consist of 104 matches under the new 48-team format.
Hailey
Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.
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Source: Futbolchronicle.com
