FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans to discuss expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament.
In an interview with Swiss broadcaster Blue Sports, Infantino stated on July 12 that the possibility of introducing a 64-team format will be reviewed by the relevant committee following the conclusion of this World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first tournament to increase the number of participating teams from 32 to 48. If FIFA decides to expand further, the scale of the World Cup will grow significantly.
Infantino emphasized, "The World Cup should not just be for Europe and South America, but for the entire world. Every country should be able to dream of participating in the World Cup." He added that as the performance of national teams improves globally, failing to provide opportunities for smaller nations could hinder their development.
The idea of a 64-team World Cup was first proposed in March 2022 by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament in 2030.
In September of the same year, Infantino met with CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez, along with the presidents of the Argentine and Uruguayan football associations and the presidents of Paraguay and Uruguay, to discuss the expansion plan.
Dominguez stated, "To create a historic World Cup in 2030, we need integration, creativity, and a larger vision. Football can become a true global festival when everyone can enjoy it together."
However, there are opposing voices regarding the expansion of participating teams. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani expressed concerns in an April 2022 interview with ESPN, stating that a 64-team expansion would not be beneficial for the World Cup itself, national teams, club competitions, or leagues and players.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has also criticized the 64-team expansion proposal as a bad idea.
If the 64-team format is implemented, the total number of World Cup matches would increase to 128, doubling the 64 matches played under the 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022. This year's World Cup will feature 48 teams competing in a total of 104 matches.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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