The FIFA World Cup could become even bigger in the coming years.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said the global football body will consider expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the conclusion of the 2026 tournament, which is itself the first edition to feature 48 participating nations.
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said FIFA would evaluate several issues after the ongoing tournament, including the possibility of another expansion.
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“These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup,” he said.
Why is FIFA considering a 64-team World Cup?
Infantino said FIFA’s vision is to make the World Cup more inclusive by giving more countries an opportunity to qualify for football’s biggest tournament.
“I think it is important that when you want to organise a World Cup, you do it for the whole world—not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world,” he told Blue Sport.
“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.”
According to him, expanding the tournament gives smaller footballing nations greater motivation to improve and compete at the highest level.
He also pointed to the performances of teams from Africa and other confederations during the 2026 edition, saying the expanded format has improved competitiveness across continents.
Has the 48-team format been successful?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico, would be the first FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams instead of 32 teams.
Despite the criticisms surrounding the move due to worries about fixture congestion and quality, Infantino believes that this tournament has proved all of them wrong.
In his opinion, football teams from all continents have scored goals and accumulated points, while African countries have had unparalleled success in qualifying for the knockouts stage.
Moreover, FIFA President defended the price structure of tickets and hydration breaks during games because stadiums have been filled almost to the maximum capacity – almost 100%.
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FIFA expects the tournament to bring around 13 to 14 billion Swiss francs to the organization.
The following FIFA World Cup for men will be held in Morocco, Portugal and Spain in 2030, while the following one will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2034.
FAQs
Will FIFA expand the World Cup up to 64 teams?
No, not yet. Gianni Infantino said the governing body of football will consider the possibility after the 2026 World Cup.
How many teams are playing in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 edition is the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, up from 32 in previous tournaments.
