​Plans for a 64-team men’s World Cup are set to be reviewed in depth after the 2026 tournament, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino arguing that football should be “for the whole world.” A proposal to expand the event was floated last year, and Infantino says the success of the enlarged 48-team format warrants examining how a 64-team edition could operate.
“That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked whether the tournament could be widened to 64 teams. “When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world—not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire globe. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.” He noted that the quality of teams is rising worldwide, and without giving smaller countries a chance to participate, they may lose the incentive to improve.
Infantino highlighted the first 48-team World Cup as a “huge success,” pointing to the progression of nine out of ten African teams to the knockout stages. “At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams— to give them this opportunity to participate.”
FIFA’s Council approved expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2017. An official proposal to broaden the 2030 edition to 64 teams was put forward by Conmebol, the South American regional body, in April 2025, but no decision has yet been reached. The 2030 tournament will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay hosting opening matches to celebrate the competition’s centenary.
Not everyone is convinced. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin has dismissed the idea, calling it a “bad idea” for both the tournament and the qualifying process. Likewise, Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned that further expansion could lead to “chaos.” Victor Montagliani, head of Concacaf, said the suggestion “doesn’t feel right” and warned that expansion could harm the wider football ecosystem. Yet Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, suggested the United States could consider bidding for the 2038 World Cup and argued the nation could manage hosting duties if the field were widened to 64 teams.
FIFA’s official stance has consistently been that expansion ideas will be discussed with stakeholders, and the association has a duty to consider proposals from its council members. While the FIFA Council would ultimately decide, supporters argue that broader participation could boost global reach and development, while critics express concerns about logistics, competitiveness, and schedule integrity. The conversation continues as FIFA weighs the potential benefits against the challenges of a 64-team World Cup.