In brief
Gianni Infantino, elected president of FIFA in 2016, sees the 2026 48‑team World Cup as a foundation for a future 64‑team edition. He argues the expanded tournament would allow teams from every continent to compete, citing the success of African teams in 2022. The proposal is already contested by UEFA, AFC, and Concacaf, who warn that a larger format would create logistical, financial and competitive challenges. While the FIFA council must review the idea after 2026, many stakeholders remain skeptical about the feasibility of a 64‑team World Cup.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport that the success of the 48‑team World Cup in 2026 could lead to a larger 64‑team format once the tournament concludes.
Infantino framed the expansion as a way to “organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America, but the entire globe”, arguing that providing qualifying opportunities will motivate smaller nations to raise their standards.
He highlighted the growth of African teams, noting that nine of the ten teams that qualified for the 2026 tournament came from the continent, a stark contrast to the five that appeared in 2006. “The quality is getting higher and higher, all over the world,” he said. “If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”
The proposal for a 64‑team World Cup was first put forward by CONMEBOL in April 2025, but no agreement has been reached. UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin labelled it a “bad idea” for both the tournament and the qualification process, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warned that further expansion would bring chaos.
Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said the suggestion “doesn’t feel right” and could damage the broader soccer ecosystem. Only the United States’ White House World Cup task force head, Andrew Giuliani, believes the country could handle a 64‑team format in future bids.
FIFA maintains that any expansion will be discussed with stakeholders and that the FIFA Council holds the decisive vote. However, there are no immediate signs the council is leaning towards a 64‑team edition.
While a larger format could open opportunities for almost a third of FIFA’s 211 member nations and generate more revenue, the practical challenges of hosting 128 games across possibly six hosting countries could prove overwhelming. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s capacity to manage such a tournament remains uncertain.
Challenges for Host Nations
Infantino’s original manifesto proposed increasing the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams. The 48‑team format was adopted in 2017 and will be in effect from the 2026 finals (co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico), while the 2030 edition will span Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
