FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirms FIFA will discuss 64-team World Cup proposal

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the world football governing body will explore the possibility of expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams following the 2026 tournament. Infantino emphasized that this potential expansion stems from a desire to give every nation a chance to compete on the world's biggest football stage.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marks a significant expansion as it will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, up from the traditional 32. Discussions about a further increase to 64 teams are slated to occur within FIFA's relevant committees after the conclusion of the 2026 event.

"When you organize a World Cup, it's important that you organize it for the whole world," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, as quoted by ESPN. "It's not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup."

Infantino also noted the increasing quality of teams globally, suggesting that limiting participation discourages smaller nations from improving. However, not all football officials share this view. In April 2025, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani expressed skepticism, telling ESPN that expanding to 64 teams might not be the right move for the tournament or the broader football ecosystem. A 64-team World Cup would double the number of matches played compared to the 32-team format, increasing the total to 128 games.

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When you organize a World Cup, it's important that you organize it for the whole world. It's not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup.