The recent expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams, inaugurated at the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, has already prompted discussions about further enlarging football’s premier international competition. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has indicated that a 64-team World Cup is among potential future formats under consideration, a proposition that could reshape the economic and logistical landscape of the sport.

Speaking during the 2026 tournament, Infantino emphasized the importance of providing smaller nations with opportunities to participate, arguing that broader inclusion helps maintain their development incentives. Expanding the tournament to 64 teams would increase the number of matches significantly—from 104 games in 2026 to potentially 128—potentially extending the tournament duration beyond the current five-week span by an additional week or more. This would demand greater infrastructure in stadiums, accommodations, and transportation, posing a significant organizational challenge, particularly if future World Cups are staged in fewer host countries.

The prospect has been met with caution and opposition, especially from the sport’s regional confederations. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin reiterated his position against increasing the size of the World Cup, arguing that it is detrimental both to the tournament itself and the value of the qualifying campaigns. Similarly, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, has raised concerns about the feasibility and limits of continuous expansion.

A larger tournament would also affect the competitive balance and economic structure of football. By making qualification easier for traditionally strong football nations, the commercial value of regional qualifying competitions could decline. This, in turn, could heighten regional confederations’ financial reliance on FIFA’s distributions, potentially shifting power more toward the global governing body. Broadcasters might place less emphasis on qualification matches if the stakes lessen, changing longstanding revenue streams within the sport.

Financial impacts extend beyond broadcasting. National federations, including wealthy ones like France, have reported substantial costs tied to World Cup participation. The French Football Federation anticipated expenditures of €24.5 million (approximately S$36.1 million) for the 2026 event, with federation president Philippe Diallo suggesting a team must advance deep into the tournament to break even financially. Diallo has called for increased financial support from FIFA to alleviate burdens on participating countries. A 64-team World Cup, with its longer duration and more matches, could increase these fiscal pressures further.

The potential impacts on player welfare are also under consideration, as an expanded schedule would add to the already intense physical demands on elite athletes. Moreover, the complexities of scheduling, particularly given evolving international league calendars and tournaments, present additional challenges. For example, Saudi Arabia’s sole hosting of the 2034 World Cup coincides with Ramadan and shifting league schedules, complicating tournament timing.

Plans for the 2030 World Cup involve multiple host countries, including Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, reflecting ongoing trends toward regional hosting to manage logistical demands.

In summary, while a 64-team World Cup would increase global participation, it raises significant questions about the tournament’s length, financial viability, competitive integrity, and operational feasibility. Whether FIFA will move beyond exploratory discussions remains uncertain as the football community weighs these multifaceted considerations.