FIFA president Gianni Infantino has indicated that world football’s governing body will evaluate the possibility of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said discussions about another expansion are expected once the current competition has been completed. He suggested the enlarged 48-team format introduced for the 2026 edition has shown the value of giving more nations the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
Expansion Debate Continues
The idea of a 64-team World Cup has been circulating within FIFA since a proposal was raised last year. While no decision has been taken, Infantino’s latest remarks confirm the organization is prepared to examine how such a tournament could be structured.
He said FIFA’s objective is to ensure the World Cup remains an event that represents the entire football community, emphasizing that the competition should be “for the whole world.”
The Tournament Has Already Grown Significantly
The 2026 World Cup marked the biggest expansion in the competition’s history, increasing the field from 32 to 48 national teams. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament introduced a new format featuring 12 groups and an expanded knockout stage.
Supporters of expansion argue that additional places allow more countries from Africa, Asia, Oceania and other regions to experience the World Cup, helping accelerate football’s development worldwide. Critics, meanwhile, have questioned whether continual growth could dilute the quality of competition, increase scheduling demands and place greater physical strain on players.
Questions Still to Be Answered
FIFA has not outlined how a 64-team tournament would operate or whether such a format could be introduced as early as the 2030 World Cup. Any proposal would require detailed discussions covering scheduling, qualification pathways, hosting logistics and the overall competition format.
With the 2026 tournament serving as the first test of the 48-team model, FIFA is expected to review its sporting, commercial and operational outcomes before deciding whether another expansion is practical.
What Happens Next?
For now, no formal decision has been made to increase the number of participating nations beyond 48. Infantino’s comments signal only that FIFA intends to examine the proposal after the current World Cup concludes.
Any move toward a 64-team competition would represent another major change for international football and would likely require approval through FIFA’s decision-making processes before it could become reality.
