Infantino Opens Door to Possible 64-Team World Cup Expansion

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says plans to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams will be considered after the 2026 tournament, arguing that the competition should provide opportunities for nations from across the globe.

The proposal for a larger tournament was introduced last year, and Infantino believes the success of the expanded 48-team format could provide a basis for exploring further growth.

Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said FIFA would assess the possibility after the 2026 World Cup, emphasising the importance of making the tournament accessible to more countries.

“When organising a World Cup, it’s important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world,” he said.

Infantino added that every nation should have the opportunity to dream of qualifying for football’s biggest international competition, noting that the standard of teams around the world continues to improve.

“If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving,” he said.

The FIFA president described the first 48-team World Cup as a major success, highlighting the improved performance of African nations as evidence of the benefits of a larger tournament.

He noted that nine of Africa’s 10 participating teams reached the knockout stages of the expanded competition, compared with only five African teams in the previous edition.

Infantino said the increased participation demonstrates the value of giving more nations the chance to compete on the global stage, while FIFA will continue reviewing how future World Cups can be structured.