FIFA says it will assess the possibility of expanding the men’s FIFA World Cup to 64 teams following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the World Cup should serve the entire football community, stressing that every nation deserves the opportunity to dream of qualifying for football’s biggest competition.
Infantino noted that the success of the expanded 48-team format has created an opportunity for FIFA to examine how an even larger tournament could be organised.
He also cited the impressive performance of African teams at the 2026 World Cup, where nine of the 10 participating nations reached the knockout stage, as evidence that expanding the tournament has strengthened global football.
