Don’t care about the quality, feel the width. Infantino put a massive 64-team World Cup on FIFA’s agenda
July 13 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino says world soccer’s governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the World Cup from its new 48-team format to 64, possibly as early as 2030, to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain with the opening match in South America.
With Infantino up for re-election next year, the proposal would be a vote-winner for any federation on the cusp of qualifying for the 48-team format.
Interviewed by Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino said that expansion was now an issue that FIFA had to address, having escalated it from a suggestion by Uruguay’s Ignacio Alonso at the FIFA Council in April 2025, and which was taken up a month later by South American Conmebol president Alessandro Dominguez at the FIFA Congress in 2025.
The idea was widely rejected by the AFC, Concacaf and UEFA as well as member associations as a bad idea and unworkable.
A week ago Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup raised the possibility of a 64-team World Cup, indicating that it had been discussed by the US government and FIFA.
“When you think that this World Cup will someday expand to 64 teams, I think the United States can handle it,” Giuliani said. “Let me make sure we get through the World Cup on July 19 before we make plans for 2038 or anything else.”
At the time, Giuliani’s remarks were not taken seriously by the confederations or member associations, but Infantino – never one to disappoint his American hosts – said of the 64-team tournament that “the matter will definitely be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup.”
“When organizing the World Cup, it is important to organize it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America – but effectively the whole world. Every country should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup,” Infantino said.
“You can see that the quality of the teams is very high – and the quality is getting higher all over the world. If you don’t give small countries the opportunity to participate in the World Cup, they will lack the incentive to continue to develop.”
That statement is highly debatable. While there have been a few draws between minnows and international football giants that have sparked comment (usually due to their defensive bravery behind the low blocks), there has been just one act of carnage in 100 matches to date. Ecuador beat Germany 2-1, even though Germany had already qualified for the first knockout round. Germany then lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.
The final four teams are the top four ranked teams in the world – Argentina, France, Spain and England. Morocco, which was the hero of the 2022 World Cup and qualified for the semifinals, retained its status as the top nation in 2026, but was knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Even so, Infantino has said the expanded 48-team format has been a huge success. Financially, this is possible, although the stadium has not yet sold out and FIFA estimates ticket revenue at $3 billion. In terms of sporting ethics and integrity, the tournament has been a disaster for FIFA to the point of losing the trust of a growing number of its member associations as well as the football community base at large. It’s a dirty laundry list that will become an important part of Infantino’s World Cup and FIFA presidency legacy.
At the FIFA Congress in Paraguay in 2025, Dominguez urged FIFA member associations to “think differently”, to be “creative and think outside the box”.
“Football belongs to the world. We are transforming football. We want the world to be part of a great party that is bigger than anything the world has seen so far. The biggest party on earth. No one can be left behind…”
“I want to repeat it – don’t change your position, but think together to do something the world is waiting for, something worthy of football. That’s Conmebol’s proposal – let’s dream big.”
The problem is that bigger is not necessarily better, and for the most part the 2026 World Cup has been boring and lacking in standout performances and the excitement of an all-in soccer competition.
FIFA has damaged itself and has the potential to become a Golden Egg with the 2026 World Cup. Imagine what impact this will have on the chaotic 64-team tournament.
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