Gianni Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that a proposal for a 64-team men's World Cup will be examined by relevant committees following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament. Infantino maintains that football must serve the entire globe, rather than being concentrated in specific regions.

The FIFA leader argues that expanding the tournament provides smaller nations with the incentive to improve and fulfill their potential on the world stage. He pointed to the performance of African teams at the most recent tournament—which featured an expanded 48-team format—as evidence that increased access leads to higher quality competition.

Football needs to be for the whole world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. Gianni Infantino

The concept of a 64-team tournament was formally proposed by CONMEBOL in April 2025. However, the idea has met with significant resistance from other governing bodies. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has dismissed it as a "bad idea," while the heads of AFC and Concacaf have expressed concerns that such an expansion would introduce chaos and damage the broader football ecosystem.

FIFA's official stance remains that it must consider all proposals from its council members, though no immediate decision is expected. While there is no official timeline for a change, stakeholders continue to debate whether the current 48-team format should be the limit for future editions.