Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup
Quick summary
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested the World Cup could expand to 64 teams for the 2030 or 2034 tournaments, doubling the current 32-team format.
Full article
Attributed to original sourcePlans for a 64-team men's world cup are set to be picked up and assessed in detail after the 2026 tournament with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino saying football needs to be "for the whole world".
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What happened
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated openness to expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, potentially as early as the 2030 or 2034 edition. The current format features 32 teams, and the tournament is already expanding to 48 teams for the 2026 edition in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Infantino's comments signal further dramatic growth of football's showcase event, raising questions about competitive quality, logistics, and the balance between expansion and sporting integrity.
Chance analysis
Expanding the World Cup to 64 teams would fundamentally reshape international football's premier competition, diluting quality while increasing revenue and global participation. The move from 32 to 48 teams for 2026 was already controversial, and a further jump to 64 would intensify debates about competitive standards, fixture congestion, and the marginalization of smaller nations' chances. For confederations outside Europe and South America, expanded slots could be beneficial, but the sporting case remains weak.
If enacted, a 64-team World Cup would reshape the tournament's competitive structure, fixture calendar, and qualification pathways for all member associations.
A 64-team World Cup would significantly dilute competitive quality; prediction models should account for more lopsided group-stage matches if implemented.