Infantino: A 64-team World Cup is under consideration
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he can envision a further expansion of the men's World Cup to 64 teams, stating that the idea should "definitely" be considered after the current tournament concludes. The 2026 edition saw the expansion from 32 to 48 teams, but the numerical calculations for this system resulted in eight third-placed teams advancing to the new round of 32. A move to 64 teams would not mean more matches for each team, but would reinstate the previous system where only the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stages. "The whole world should be allowed to dream about the World Cup, not just Europe and South America," Infantino told Swiss website BluSport. He described the current expansion as a "great success." The 56-year-old added, "You can see that the overall quality of the teams is very high and is getting higher and higher all over the world." The current expansion has resulted in a record 104 matches played over five weeks, while a 64-team format would require 128 matches in the tournament. The 2030 edition is scheduled to be held in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and South American officials have already floated the idea of a 64-team tournament.
