FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed the organization will examine expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams following the 2026 tournament, emphasizing that every nation should have the opportunity to participate in football's premier event.
The announcement signals FIFA's continued interest in broadening participation in the World Cup, the most-watched sporting event on the planet. Infantino's comments indicate that discussions about further expansion will take place after the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
According to Infantino, the fundamental principle driving the potential expansion is inclusivity. The FIFA president stated that every nation should have the chance to dream of playing at football's biggest event, suggesting that increased participation aligns with the organization's vision for global football development.
The potential move to 64 teams would represent a significant restructuring of the tournament format. Such an expansion would require substantial logistical planning, including decisions about host nation capacity, match scheduling, and qualification processes across FIFA's continental confederations.
FIFA has not announced a specific timeline for when formal discussions will begin or when a decision might be reached. The organization's willingness to examine the proposal demonstrates its ongoing evaluation of how to balance tournament prestige with broader global participation in international football.
The expansion discussion reflects FIFA's broader strategy under Infantino's leadership, which has emphasized increasing opportunities for national teams worldwide to compete on football's biggest stage. Whether the proposal advances beyond the examination phase will depend on FIFA's assessment of the practical and competitive implications of such a substantial tournament expansion.
