FIFA President open to 64-team World Cup, citing global participation

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has signaled openness to increasing the number of participating teams in the World Cup finals to 64. He stated that the idea warrants study after the current tournament, emphasizing the goal of providing more nations with an opportunity to compete on the world's biggest football stage. "The whole world should dream of the World Cup, not just Europe and South America," Infantino told Swiss outlet Blu Sport. He highlighted the "great success" of expanding to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, noting the continuous development of teams across continents as further justification for broader participation. The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams, up from 32 since 1998, increasing the total matches to 104. A 64-team format would raise this to 128 matches, potentially reverting to direct qualification for the top two from each group, eliminating the need for the best third-placed teams to advance. This stance follows a proposal from CONMEBOL, South America's football confederation, to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the tournament's centenary. However, the idea has generated division. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin called it a "bad" idea, while CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani suggested further expansion could harm football's ecosystem. Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa warned of potential organizational "chaos." Former Germany coach Joachim Löw also opposed the move, deeming 64 teams excessive and warning of impacts on match quality and player health amid a crowded international calendar.

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The whole world should dream of the World Cup, not just Europe and South America.