The FIFA World Cup, which debuted with 48 teams, may expand to 64 teams.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino mentioned in an interview with Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport on July 13 that he is considering a significant increase in the number of participating teams from the current 48 to 64. He stated, "This is definitely a matter to be discussed after the North American tournament concludes through the relevant committee."
Infantino emphasized, "The World Cup should be for Europe and South America, but essentially for the whole world. Every country should be able to dream of participating in the World Cup. We see that the level of teams worldwide is very high and improving. If smaller nations do not get the opportunity to participate, they lose motivation for development."
He particularly cited the success of African nations in the ongoing 2026 North American tournament, where nine out of ten participating African countries advanced past the group stage. Infantino remarked, "This is a tremendous success. In the previous tournament, only five African nations participated. This shows how important it is to include all teams and provide participation opportunities."
If the number of World Cup participants increases to 64, the total number of matches would rise to 128, doubling the 64 matches played in the 32-team format.
The idea of a 64-team World Cup is not new. Last March, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) proposed increasing the number of teams to 64 for the 2030 tournament, which will mark the centenary of the World Cup. The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with the opening matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
However, there is significant pushback within the soccer community regarding the potential expansion. Following CONMEBOL's proposal, the European Football Association (UEFA), along with Asian and North American federations, expressed their concerns. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin criticized the idea, stating, "It's a bad idea. I find it truly astonishing and unacceptable."
Some speculate that FIFA may be considering expanding the number of teams to help countries like China, which failed to qualify despite an increased number of spots in the Asian qualifiers.
AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa commented, "While the expansion to 64 teams may be a one-time event, it could lead to calls for 132 teams in the future. We should avoid the chaos that indiscriminate changes can bring."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.