Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, says the 2026 World Cup will be judged on how well the expanded 48‑team format served the globe, and he opens the door to a possible 64‑team tournament after that final.
Infantino cited the 48‑team format as a “huge success” and noted that nine of the ten African teams that made it to the knockout round proved that higher participation can raise quality around the world.
He told the Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport that a World Cup should be organised for the whole world, not just Europe and South America, and that every nation deserves a chance to dream of participation.
Infantino highlighted that the strength of the teams is climbing globally; if smaller countries are denied entry they lose the incentive to improve.
Conmebol last April proposed a 64‑team 2030 edition, but federations such as UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF have warned that a larger draw would bring chaos to the qualifying process and strain host infrastructure.
The 2030 finals would be staged across six countries – Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – adding complexity that few think Saudi Arabia could manage for a 64‑team competition in 2034.
FIFA states it will consult stakeholders and the Council, which ultimately decides. The debate is far from settled, but Infantino’s comments keep the possibility of a 64‑team World Cup alive.
