JAKARTA - The controversy at the 2026 World Cup is not over, FIFA is looking for more sensation. Gianni Infantino confirmed that FIFA will discuss expanding the World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition.
He further said that every country should have the opportunity to dream of playing in the biggest football event.
As is known, the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is the first to feature 48 teams, after being expanded from 32 teams. Further improvements are likely to occur.
"This is of course an issue that will be considered and discussed in the relevant committee after the 2026 World Cup. When you host the World Cup, it is important to host it for the whole world."
"Not just Europe and South America, but the whole world, basically. Every country should be able to dream of participating in the World Cup."
"We can see that the quality of the teams is very high and getting higher around the world. If you don't give small countries the opportunity to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to continue to improve themselves," Infantino told Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of a tournament with 64 teams.
The prospect of a 64-team World Cup first emerged in March 2025, when South American confederation (Conmebol) proposed expanding the 2030 edition of the tournament, which would mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament.
In September 2025, Infantino met with Conmebol President Alejandro Dominguez, the presidents of the Argentine and Uruguayan Football Federations, as well as the presidents of Paraguay and Uruguay in New York to discuss the proposal.
"We believe in a historic 2030 World Cup. We want to call for unity, creativity, and great faith. When football is enjoyed together by everyone, the celebration is truly global," Dominguez said at the time.
However, the idea also gave birth to opposition, one of which was from Concacaf (the Confederation of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean).
"I don't believe expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the wider football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players," Concacaf President Victor Montagliani told ESPN, in April 2025.
If approved, a 64-team World Cup would feature 128 matches, double the number of games played in the 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022. This year's tournament alone will feature 104 matches.
No wonder, the conflict did not stop there. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, previously described the proposal as a bad idea.
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