Infantino drops 64-team World Cup bombshell – football for everyone?

The World Cup just got bigger – again. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has opened the door to a 64-team men's World Cup, with plans to be formally assessed once the 2026 edition wraps up. Speaking on the future of the global showpiece, Infantino framed the potential explosion in participants as a matter of inclusion: 'football needs to be for the whole world.'

The bombshell proposal

Infantino's comments come as FIFA prepares to debut the 48-team format in 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. That expansion, from 32 nations, was already a seismic shift – doubling the knockout phase and spreading group-stage matches across three time zones. Now, the idea of 64 teams would push the tournament close to a quarter of FIFA's 211 member associations, turning the group stage into a marathon that could last weeks.

Why this matters

For the average fan, a 128-team event sounds like chaos. But Infantino's logic is clear: more teams equals more representation, more markets, and more revenue. The men's World Cup is FIFA's cash cow, and every expansion has delivered record broadcast deals. Critics, however, warn of diluted quality, player burnout, and an already packed calendar. The European Club Association and players' unions have pushed back against previous expansions, and a 64-team tournament would likely intensify that conflict.

What happens next

The post-2026 review period is key. FIFA will study the impact of the 48-team format – travel demands, competitive balance, and fan engagement – before deciding on any further changes. No official timeline has been set, but with the 2030 World Cup already awarded to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco (plus centenary matches in South America), a 64-team event would likely not kick off until 2034 at the earliest. For now, the football world digests the prospect of a tournament so vast it could include nearly every nation on Earth.

What it means

Infantino's vision is a double-edged sword. On one side, it promises a truly global party, giving more minnows a shot at glory. On the other, it risks turning the World Cup into a bloated schedule where group games feel meaningless. The next few years will be a tug-of-war between commercial ambition and sporting integrity. One thing is certain: the debate has only just begun.