Why a 64-Team World Cup Isn't Madness—It's the Future

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be the first to feature 48 teams—a massive leap from the 32-team format we’ve known for decades. Already, the prospect of seeing nations like Panama, Iceland, and Cape Verde grace the biggest stage has fans buzzing. But a growing chorus of voices is asking: why stop at 48? A proposal to expand further to 64 teams might sound radical, but it’s actually the most logical next step for a sport that is truly global.

Look at the scenes from recent tournaments. Smaller football nations bring an infectious joy that transforms the atmosphere. Their fans travel with passion, paint host cities in unexpected colors, and create moments that transcend the scoreline. Yes, we’ll see occasional blowouts—Brazil vs. Tahiti, anyone?—but we also get the fairy tales, like Costa Rica’s run to the quarterfinals in 2014 or Morocco’s historic semifinal in 2022. Expanding to 64 would invite even more of these stories.

And let’s address the elephant in the room: Italy. The four-time World Cup winners didn’t qualify for the last two tournaments. A 64-team format would dramatically reduce the risk of such giants missing out, ensuring their passionate fanbase can follow the Azzurri to the World Cup. It’s not just about the top 20 nations—it’s about the entire football family. Think of the likes of Norway, Ghana, or Venezuela; their fans deserve to experience the tournament firsthand.

Critics will argue that more teams dilute quality, but that’s a narrow view. The group stage already features mismatches, yet the knockout rounds consistently deliver drama. With 64 teams, we could see a format that preserves competition—perhaps 16 groups of four, with the top two advancing—while giving every confederation more slots. It’s a numbers game that FIFA can easily solve.

More importantly, a 64-team World Cup isn’t just about more matches; it’s about inclusion. The sport’s growth in Asia, Africa, and the Americas demands a bigger platform. Smaller nations like Italy (joking aside) or even traditional minnows like Bhutan would feel the tournament is within reach. That dream fuels development back home—better facilities, more investment, broader participation.

The 48-team World Cup will be a test case. If it proves that more teams make the event richer—and early signs from qualifying suggest it will—then the logical next step is 64. The journey is already underway; let’s not stop now.