In brief
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that after the 2026 World Cup, the organisation will assess whether a 64‑team format could work. He cited the success of the expanded 48‑team tournament, including strong African representation, as proof of concept. However, world football bodies from UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF have raised concerns about logistical challenges and expanded qualification rounds. No immediate decision has been made, but FIFA will continue to explore proposals with stakeholders.
After a demanding 2026 World Cup that expanded from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the global football body will study whether a 64‑team edition could be viable. He praised the tournament’s inclusion of European, South American and African clubs and highlighted that nine of ten African teams reached the knockout stages.
Infantino told the Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport that the tournament should be organised "for the whole world" so that every nation has a chance to dream and compete. The sooner a larger format is tested, the better the incentive for smaller nations to grow.
The proposal for a 64‑team World Cup surfaced last year from South American confederation CONMEBOL and is now on FIFA’s agenda. Nonetheless, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani have all expressed concerns about logistics, qualification complexity and risk of "chaos".
FIFA has said it will consult stakeholders and that ultimate approval lies with the FIFA Council. While no consensus has emerged, the governing body remains open to exploring structure and host‑nation arrangements for a future expanded edition.
