Infantino does not rule out expanding World Cup to 64 teams

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is open to the idea of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, a significant increase from the current 48-nation format set for the 2026 tournament.

Infantino told Swiss portal blue Sport that such an expansion is "definitely" a topic that should be considered after the next World Cup. He emphasized his belief that the tournament should offer a chance for "the whole world" to participate and "dream" of competing, rather than being limited to traditional footballing continents like Europe and South America.

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The whole world must be allowed to dream of the World Cup, and not just Europe and South America.

The FIFA chief's comments suggest a continued push towards greater global inclusivity in the sport's premier event. The expansion to 48 teams for 2026, which includes 104 matches, was already a major shift. Further increasing the number of participating nations would likely have significant implications for tournament scheduling, infrastructure, and global football development.

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These are all topics that we should "definitely" think about after the World Cup.