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FIFA President Signals Potential 64-Team World Cup Discussion

By SideLine Desk ·
FIFA President Signals Potential 64-Team World Cup Discussion
Illustration: SideLine

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that the governing body will explore the possibility of increasing the number of participating teams in the men's World Cup to 64. This potential change would come into effect after the 2026 tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents a significant expansion itself, moving from 32 to 48 nations. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has now confirmed that the organization is prepared to consider an even larger format for future editions.

Infantino's comments suggest that the governing body is open to discussing a further increase to 64 teams, with these conversations slated to occur following the conclusion of the next tournament. This proposed expansion would more than double the number of teams compared to the pre-2026 format.

The current 2026 World Cup is already poised to be the most extensive in the competition's history, accommodating 48 national teams. The prospect of an additional doubling of that number showcases a clear ambition from FIFA to broaden participation on the global stage.

💬 SideLine Take

While expanding the World Cup to 64 teams might seem like a move to democratize the tournament, it risks diluting the quality of play and creating an unwieldy schedule. FIFA appears more interested in revenue than footballing excellence.

AI-assisted rewrite. This story was written by the SideLine Desk from the reporting below and reviewed by our editors — read the original for the full story. How we work.
Source: Yahoo Sports
#FIFA#World Cup#Expansion#Football

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