FIFA to Discuss Possible 64-Team World Cup Expansion

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the idea of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams will be discussed after the 2026 tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is already the biggest edition in tournament history. It is the first World Cup to include 48 teams, expanded from the previous 32-team format.

Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said FIFA would look at the possibility of further expansion in the relevant committees after the current tournament.

Infantino said the World Cup should be a tournament for the entire world, not only for Europe and South America. He added that every nation should be able to dream of taking part in football’s biggest competition.

The idea of a 64-team World Cup was first proposed by CONMEBOL in March 2025 for the 2030 tournament, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the World Cup. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez has supported the idea, saying football should be shared globally.

However, the proposal has also faced criticism. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said he does not believe expanding to 64 teams would be the right move for the tournament or the wider football calendar. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has also called the proposal “a bad idea.”

If approved, a 64-team World Cup would include 128 matches. That would be double the number of matches played under the old 32-team format and more than the 104 matches being played at the 2026 tournament.

For now, FIFA has not made a final decision. But Infantino’s comments confirm that another major World Cup expansion could soon become part of football’s biggest debate.