FIFA Considers Expanding World Cup to 64 Teams After 2026 Tournament

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the organization plans to discuss expanding the World Cup to 64 national teams following the 2026 tournament. The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32. Infantino explained that the goal of further expansion is to allow smaller nations the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage, emphasizing that the World Cup should represent all continents, not just traditional powerhouses from Europe and South America.

In an interview with Swiss network Blue Sport, Infantino highlighted the improving quality of teams worldwide and suggested that giving smaller countries a chance to participate could motivate their continued development. The idea of expanding to 64 teams was first seriously proposed in March 2025 by CONMEBOL, South America's football confederation, which suggested implementing the change as early as the 2030 World Cup, marking the tournament's centennial. Infantino met with CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez and other South American football leaders in September 2025 to discuss the proposal.

The 2030 World Cup is expected to be hosted mainly by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with special matches in South America to commemorate the tournament's 100th anniversary. While some support the expansion as a way to globalize the event, there is notable opposition. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin have expressed concerns that increasing the number of teams to 64 could harm the tournament's quality, create disparities between teams, and add strain to already congested football calendars.

FIFA has yet to release an official response to these discussions, but the topic is set to be examined by relevant committees after the 2026 World Cup concludes.