FIFA President Infantino Says 64-Team World Cup Expansion Will Be Examined

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the organization will discuss expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after 2026.

The men's World Cup could nearly double in size if FIFA moves forward with expansion talks floated by its president. Gianni Infantino confirmed that FIFA will examine the possibility of growing the tournament to 64 teams following the 2026 World Cup, which is itself already an expansion — that edition will feature 48 teams, up from the traditional 32. Infantino framed the potential expansion in inclusive terms, saying every nation should have the opportunity to dream of competing at football's biggest event. No timeline or formal vote has been announced; Infantino indicated the matter will be taken up for discussion rather than decided imminently. The 2026 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will mark the first time 48 nations participate. A further jump to 64 teams would represent the largest single expansion in the tournament's history.

Why it matters

A 64-team World Cup would dramatically reshape global football, affecting qualification pathways for every FIFA member nation and significantly increasing the commercial and logistical scale of the tournament. It would also extend the event's duration and alter competitive dynamics built around the current format.

What's next

FIFA is expected to formally discuss the 64-team proposal after the 2026 tournament concludes.

Key facts

• FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed discussions about expanding the World Cup to 64 teams
• Any expansion would take effect after the 2026 World Cup, not before it
• The 2026 tournament will already expand to 48 teams, up from 32
• The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico
• Infantino cited universal access — every nation having a chance to qualify — as the rationale
• No formal vote or implementation timeline has been announced

Bias & framing notes

Only one source covers the FIFA story, and it is a single outlet (ESPN) reporting on statements made by Infantino. The NFL player rankings from the second ESPN source are an entirely different story and were not relevant to this event. No additional outlets corroborate Infantino's comments here, which keeps the trust score moderate despite the named primary source.

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