Infantino acknowledges possibility of 64-team World Cup, reshaping football economics

The first 48-team World Cup has barely concluded, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino has already acknowledged the possibility that football's biggest tournament could grow larger still. Speaking to Swiss television during the tournament, Infantino said a 64-team World Cup was among ideas to be examined after the final, reigniting debate over how large the showpiece event can realistically become.

Logistical implications are obvious: more stadiums, hotels, transport, and likely more time. But the financial consequences could be even more significant. By making qualification easier for many of the game's biggest nations, a 64-team tournament could reduce the commercial value of qualifying competitions while increasing the importance of FIFA's flagship event. If broadcasters place less value on qualifying campaigns, regional confederations could become increasingly dependent on FIFA's distributions, potentially shifting financial influence toward the global governing body.

Opposition has already emerged. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said last year, "I don't think it's a good idea for the World Cup itself, and it's not a good idea for our qualifiers either." Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also voiced opposition, questioning where further expansion might end.

The 2026 tournament in North America was the first since 1998 to move from 32 teams, expanding to 48 nations and 104 matches over more than five weeks. A 64-team World Cup with the same structure would feature 128 matches – 24 more than 2026 and double the old 32-team format. Unless FIFA compresses the schedule or stages more simultaneous games, the tournament could add roughly another week.

Plans for 2030 involve Spain, Portugal, Morocco, plus opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Accommodating 64 teams across six host nations presents a formidable challenge. Saudi Arabia, hosting alone in 2034, already faces scheduling issues as Ramadan is expected to begin in mid-November that year, making the winter window difficult to replicate and potentially forcing another calendar reshuffle.

Player welfare concerns would intensify with more matches adding to elite players' workload. National federations also face higher costs: the French Football Federation budgeted €24.5 million for this year's World Cup, and its president said FIFA should provide more financial support. A 64-team tournament would give more nations access to the biggest stage but could reignite debate over competitive balance, tournament length, fan costs, and whether the World Cup risks losing some of its exclusivity. The idea's progress may depend on how the first 48-team edition is ultimately judged.