FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams may be considered in the future, shortly after the conclusion of the first 48-team tournament. Such an expansion, if implemented, would represent a significant change in the structure and economics of football’s premier competition.

A 64-team World Cup would require substantial logistical adjustments. The tournament would need more stadiums, accommodation, transport, and an extended timeframe. The current format, introduced for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, involves 48 teams competing in 104 matches over more than five weeks. Expanding to 64 teams under the same structure could lead to approximately 128 matches, nearly doubling the number of games held during the traditional 32-team tournaments and potentially lengthening the event by an additional week.

Financial considerations also play a critical role in the debate. A larger tournament might lessen the importance and commercial value of regional qualification competitions by making entry easier for many prominent football nations. This could lead broadcasters and sponsors to place greater emphasis on the World Cup itself rather than the qualifiers, potentially shifting more financial influence towards FIFA and away from the six regional confederations. This shift raises questions about the distribution of revenues and power within the sport’s global governance.

Opposition to expansion has come from key football organizations. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has publicly stated his disapproval of increasing the tournament size, emphasizing concerns over both the World Cup and its qualifying process. Similarly, Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has expressed skepticism, questioning how far such growth could go. In contrast, Infantino argues that expanding participation is essential for the development of football worldwide, particularly for smaller or less-established footballing nations, as it provides them with incentive to improve.

Organizing a 64-team World Cup also presents immense practical challenges, especially considering plans for upcoming tournaments. The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, a collective effort that already requires complex coordination. Saudi Arabia’s sole hosting of the 2034 World Cup faces scheduling difficulties due to Ramadan occurring in mid-November, complicating the tournament calendar further. Saudi Arabia is preparing 15 venues for the existing 48-team format, demonstrating the scale of infrastructure preparations needed, which would be even more demanding with further expansion.

The impact of a larger tournament would extend to domestic leagues as well, which are increasingly aligned with traditional seasonal calendars running from August to May. Countries such as Japan and the United States are transitioning to this schedule, meaning a World Cup held outside the typical summer window, as seen in 2022, would disrupt more domestic competitions worldwide.

Economic pressures on national federations are considerable, even for well-resourced ones like France, whose federation anticipated substantial costs for competing in the recent World Cup. French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo has called for increased financial support from FIFA for participating teams. A longer and larger tournament could exacerbate these financial strains.

Concerns have also been raised about player welfare, given the increased number of matches elite athletes would be required to play. Moreover, questions about competitive balance, tournament length, ticket pricing, and the preservation of the World Cup’s exclusivity remain central to discussions about expansion.

Whether the World Cup will grow beyond 48 teams depends in part on assessments of the current tournament’s success and the appetite of the global football community for further change.