FIFA President Gianni Infantino says football’s governing body will consider expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, arguing that more countries should have the opportunity to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said the proposal would be reviewed by FIFA’s relevant committees after the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He said the World Cup should represent the entire football community and not only established regions such as Europe and South America.
According to Infantino, giving more nations access to the tournament would allow countries around the world to dream of reaching football’s highest level.
The 2026 World Cup already featured an expanded 48-team format, up from the previous 32-team competition.
A further increase to 64 teams would mark another major change in the tournament’s structure.
Infantino said football quality continued to improve across different confederations and that wider participation could encourage smaller nations to invest more in developing the sport.
The idea of a 64-team World Cup gained attention in 2025 after CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez proposed the expansion for the 2030 centenary edition of the tournament.
Infantino later held discussions with Domínguez and football officials from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay over the proposal.
Supporters of the plan believe a larger tournament would make the competition more inclusive, while critics argue that it could reduce the quality of matches and add more pressure to an already crowded football calendar.
Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has previously opposed the idea, saying a 64-team World Cup would not benefit the tournament or the wider football system. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin also criticised the proposal, describing it as “a bad idea.”
If approved, the 64-team format would increase the number of World Cup matches to 128, compared with 104 games scheduled for the 48-team tournament in 2026.
