Infantino talks up prospect of 64
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested that the World Cup could expand from 48 to 64 teams for future tournaments. He argues that expansion encourages smaller nations to improve their football programs and ensures global inclusivity.
Why it matters
This proposal signals a potential shift in the structure of the world's most popular sporting event, impacting host requirements and tournament logistics.
FIFA officials will look at the possibility of expanding the World Cup by another 16 teams before the 2030 event, president Gianni Infantino said in an interview.
Infantino told Bluewin, a Swiss media outlet, that growing from 48 to 64 teams could make sense.
"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," he told Bluewin.
"When organizing a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America - but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.
"You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high - and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving."
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