Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup

Key Points:

• FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that plans for a 64-team men's World Cup will be evaluated after the 2026 tournament, emphasizing the importance of including teams from around the world to encourage global football development.
• The expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026 has been deemed a "huge success," with notable progress such as nine out of ten African teams reaching the knockout stages, highlighting the benefits of broader participation.
• The proposal to increase the World Cup to 64 teams, initially suggested by South America's Conmebol for the 2030 edition, has faced opposition from key figures including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who warn it could disrupt the tournament and qualification processes.
• While some officials, like Concacaf President Victor Montagliani, express concerns about the expansion's impact on global football, others such as Andrew Giuliani from the U.S. World Cup task force indicate readiness to host a larger tournament in 2038.
• FIFA maintains that any decision on further expansion will involve consultation with stakeholders and the FIFA Council, with no immediate plans to implement the 64-team format.