FIFA President Gianni Infantino Hints at World Cup Expansion to 64 Teams
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked a new record with 48 teams competing, up from the previous 32. Yet, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated the tournament might expand even further.
In a recent interview, Infantino revealed that after this World Cup wraps up next week, FIFA will explore the possibility of increasing the number of teams beyond 48.
Discussing a Move to 64 Teams
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino was asked about expanding the tournament to 64 teams. He did not dismiss the idea.
“This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino told ESPN. “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.”
He added that as the quality of teams worldwide improves, smaller nations need opportunities to compete or they lose motivation to develop their football programs.
Support From South America for Expansion
Back in March 2025, CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, proposed increasing the field to 64 teams starting with the 2030 World Cup, which will mark 100 years of the tournament.
“We believe in a historic 2030 World Cup. We want to call for unity, creativity and believing big. Because when football is shared by everyone, the celebration is truly global,” said CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez.
What Would a 64-Team World Cup Look Like?
A jump to 64 teams would double the number of matches compared to the 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022. The older format had 64 matches; the 2026 tournament features 104 matches with 48 teams. With 64 teams, there would be 128 matches played.
This setup could simplify advancing to the knockout rounds. In 2026, eight third-place teams moved on using tiebreakers. A 64-team format might eliminate the need for third-place qualifiers, allowing only group winners and runners-up to progress.
