Gianni Infantino emphasizes global inclusivity as football's governing body reviews tournament format
Category: Sports
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that plans to expand the men's World Cup to 64 teams will be evaluated after the 2026 tournament, emphasizing the need for the event to represent football on a global scale. Infantino stated that the success of the upcoming 48-team tournament, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has opened the door for discussions about a larger format.
As seen in a trending post on r/soccer, Infantino highlighted that FIFA would examine the potential for a 64-team tournament, which could significantly increase participation from smaller nations. He remarked, "These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup," when asked whether the tournament could grow to accommodate more teams.
Infantino's comments come on the heels of a proposal initiated by South America's governing body, CONMEBOL, which was put forward in April 2025. The proposal seeks to celebrate the World Cup's centenary by significantly increasing the number of participating teams. Currently, the 2030 edition is set to be co-hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay hosting the opening matches.
"When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world—not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world," Infantino added. He believes that the quality of football is improving globally, providing an opportunity for smaller nations to compete and develop their programs. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world," he said. Infantino expressed concern that without opportunities for smaller countries, they may lack the incentive to improve.
The inaugural Men's World Cup in 1930 featured just 13 teams, gradually increasing to 16, 24, and then 32 teams in 1998. With the 2026 tournament set to include 48 teams, a potential expansion to 64 would mean that nearly a third of FIFA's 211 member associations could qualify for the tournament.
Critics of the expansion, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, have voiced concerns about the impact on the tournament's quality and the qualifying process. Ceferin described the 64-team proposal as a "bad idea," arguing that it could dilute the significance of qualification. Similarly, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), warned that such an expansion could lead to "chaos" in the tournament structure.
Victor Montagliani, the president of Concacaf, expressed skepticism about the proposal, stating that it "doesn't feel right" to discuss another expansion before the 48-team format has been adequately tested. He emphasized the need to assess the broader implications of such a change on the football ecosystem.
The FIFA council approved the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, marking a historic shift in the tournament's format. Infantino's initial manifesto upon taking office in 2016 included plans to increase the tournament size, initially proposing 40 teams before settling on 48. This expansion was seen as a way to allow more nations to participate and to generate additional revenue for FIFA and its member associations.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, many stakeholders are closely monitoring the success of the expanded format. Infantino has pointed to the progress made by teams from Africa, noting that nine out of ten African representatives reached the knockout stages of the tournament. "At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa," he said, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in fostering the development of football worldwide.
The 2030 World Cup is particularly historic, as it marks the centenary of the first tournament held in Uruguay in 1930. The decision to host matches across six countries—Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay—underscores FIFA's commitment to celebrating this milestone. The opening matches will pay tribute to the tournament's origins, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay each hosting a match.
FIFA's official position is that any discussions about expansion will involve consultations with stakeholders, and the final decision will rest with the FIFA council. No timeline has been established for when a decision about the 64-team proposal will be made, but it is clear that the conversation will take place following the 2026 tournament. Infantino has indicated that the success of the 48-team format will be a key factor in determining the feasibility of a larger tournament.
As the football community awaits the outcome of the 2026 World Cup, the implications of a potential expansion are vast. A 64-team format would not only increase the number of matches—rising from 104 to 128—but would also necessitate a reevaluation of hosting capabilities. The logistical challenges of accommodating a larger tournament are considerable, raising questions about travel, stadium availability, and the already crowded football calendar.
Nevertheless, the prospect of a 64-team World Cup remains enticing for many, as it could provide greater opportunities for nations to compete on the world stage. Infantino's vision of a more inclusive tournament aligns with the growing trend of globalizing football, allowing more countries to share in the excitement and prestige of the World Cup. As discussions continue, attention will turn to FIFA and its stakeholders to see how the future of the tournament will take shape.
The FIFA council's decision on the expansion will likely come after the 2026 World Cup concludes, with the global football community eager to see how the format will evolve in the coming years.
This article is grounded in a discussion trending on Reddit. Claims from the original post and comments may not reflect independently verified reporting.