FIFA president Gianni Infantino just dropped a new idea while the 2026 World Cup is still wrapping up. He wants to expand the tournament again. To 64 teams.
That is double the size of the World Cup from just eight years ago. And it is 16 more teams than the 48-nation field that is currently generating a ton of noise—some good, some bad—across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Infantino told Swiss outlet Bluewin (via the Mirror) that internal committees will officially study the concept after this summer’s tournament. “It is definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” he said.
The proposal did not come from nowhere. South American football leaders pitched the idea, and Infantino is clearly on board. He argued that the World Cup should belong to everyone, not just the traditional powers.
“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup,” Infantino said. “If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”
Why now? The 2026 tournament changed the conversation
The current 48-team format was met with skepticism before it kicked off. Critics worried about player fatigue and diluted competition. But FIFA is calling this edition a success—record crowds, dramatic matches and almost no major logistical meltdowns so far.
That positive vibe has given Infantino and his allies momentum. They want to move fast on a 64-team version for 2030, which would effectively turn the World Cup into a month-long qualifying event plus a knockout stage.
It would also mean more matches—potentially over 120—and a longer calendar. Organizers for 2030 (which is set to span Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with a few games in South America) would have to figure out how to fit that into a month.
Infantino framed the expansion as a development tool. The logic goes like this: if smaller nations know they have a real shot at making the field, their federations will invest more in youth programs, coaching and infrastructure. Critics counter that the quality gap between the best and worst teams is already glaring, and adding 16 more teams could produce more blowout games.
FIFA has not set a timeline for a final decision. But with Infantino pushing publicly and the 2026 event still fresh in everyone’s mind, don’t be surprised if this becomes a major story at FIFA’s next council meeting.
The World Cup has grown from 24 to 32 to 48 in three decades. Sixty-four might be next.
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