64-Team World Cup? FIFA Confirms Expansion Will Be Discussed After 2026
FIFA is set to discuss expanding the World Cup to 64 teams following the 2026 tournament, which already marks a significant increase to 48 teams. FIFA president Gianni Infantino advocates for this idea to provide more nations the chance to compete. However, opinions on the necessity of further expansion are divided among football leaders.
Could the FIFA World Cup become even bigger after 2026? Just months before the first 48-team tournament kicks off across Canada, Mexico and the United States, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that expanding the competition to 64 teams will officially be discussed after the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The proposal would represent another major change for the world’s biggest sporting event and could significantly reshape international soccer beginning with the 2030 tournament.
FIFA says every nation should have the opportunity to dream
Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino said FIFA’s governing bodies will review the proposal once the 2026 World Cup concludes.
“This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup.”
The FIFA president defended the idea by arguing that expanding the tournament creates opportunities for nations that have traditionally struggled to qualify.
“When you organize a World Cup, it’s important that you organize it for the whole world. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup.”
Infantino also believes the overall standard of international soccer continues to improve worldwide.
“If you don’t give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving.”
How many teams are playing in the 2026 World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 already represents the biggest expansion in tournament history.
After featuring 32 teams from 1998 through 2022, this year’s edition has increased to 48 nations competing across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The expansion also increases the number of matches from 64 to 104.
If FIFA eventually approves a 64-team World Cup, the tournament would feature 128 matches, exactly double the number played under the previous 32-team format.
Where did the 64-team World Cup proposal come from?
The idea first gained momentum in 2025 after South American governing body CONMEBOL proposed expanding the centennial FIFA World Cup in 2030.
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez argued that a larger tournament would allow more countries to participate in what will be a historic edition celebrating 100 years of the competition.
Later that year, Infantino met with CONMEBOL officials and football leaders from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to discuss the proposal.
Not everyone supports expanding the World Cup
Despite FIFA agreeing to study the proposal, several influential football leaders have publicly questioned whether another expansion is necessary.
Concacaf president Victor Montagliani previously said he does not believe increasing the tournament to 64 teams is the right decision for international soccer, pointing to its impact on players, domestic leagues and the overall football calendar.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has also voiced his opposition, describing the proposal as “a bad idea.”
Those differing opinions are expected to fuel significant debate once FIFA begins formally evaluating the proposal after the 2026 tournament.
What happens next?
For now, the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains the first edition featuring 48 teams, marking the biggest structural change in the competition’s history.
Whether FIFA decides to expand once again remains uncertain.
What is clear, however, is that the conversation has officially begun, and the possibility of a 64-team World Cup will become one of the biggest topics shaping the future of international soccer once the tournament concludes.
