Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will discuss expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, saying every nation should be able to dream of participating in football’s biggest event.
The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature 48 teams for the first time, up from 32, with further expansion possible.
“This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” the FIFA president told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of a 64-team tournament. “When you organize a World Cup, it is important that you organize it for the whole world. This is not only Europe and South America, but actually the whole world. Every nation should be able to dream of participating in the World Cup.
Gianni Infantino said that after the current World Cup, FIFA will consider expanding the tournament to 64 teams. Photo by Dominic Bindle/Getty Images
“We see that the quality of the teams is extremely high and it is getting higher and higher all over the world. If you don’t give smaller countries the opportunity to compete in the World Cup, they will also lose the incentive to keep improving.”
The prospect of a 64-team World Cup first arose in March 2025, when South American confederation CONMEBOL proposed expanding the 2030 tournament, which would mark the competition’s centenary.
In September, Infantino met in New York with CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, the presidents of the Argentine and Uruguay football associations, and the presidents of Paraguay and Uruguay to discuss the proposal.
– Where was Infantino? FIFA President’s Epic Football Tour
– What is Infantino’s legacy as FIFA President: reformer or ringleader?
Dominguez said at the time: “We believe in a historic 2030 World Cup. We want to call for unity, creativity and great faith. Because when football is shared by everyone, the holiday becomes truly global.”
In April 2025, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani told ESPN: “I do not believe that expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues and players.”
If approved, the 64-team World Cup would host 128 matches, double the 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022. This year’s tournament will feature 104 matches.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin previously called the proposal a “bad idea.”