Don’t mind the quality, feel the range. Infantino puts a big 64-man World Cup squad on FIFA’s agenda

July 13 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the world governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the World Cup from its new status of 48 teams to 64, possibly at the beginning of 2030, which will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain with the opening games in South America.

With Infantino up for re-election next year, the proposal would be a vote-winner for any organization that comes close to qualifying for the 48-team format.

In an interview with the Swiss media Bluewin, Infantino said that the increase is now an issue that FIFA must face, having raised it in the proposal of Ignacio Alonso of Uruguay to the FIFA Council in April 2025, and which was taken a month later by the president of Conmebol of South America Alessandro Dominguez at the FIFA Conference of FIFA.

The idea was widely dismissed by AFC, Concacaf and UEFA and member associations as a bad and ineffective idea.

Last week Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 suggested the possibility of a World Cup of 64 teams, giving an indication that it has already been discussed by the American administration and FIFA.

“If you think that this World Cup can sometimes go to 64 teams, I think that the United States can host it,” said Giuliani. “Let me make sure that we finish this World Cup on July 19 before we play our games in 2038 or others.”

At the time, Giuliani’s words were not taken seriously by the confederations or the member organizations, but Infantino – he has never disappointed his American athletes – said about the tournament with 64 teams that “it is definitely an issue that will be studied and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup.”

“When you organize the World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America – but effectively the whole world. Every country should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup,” said Infantino.

“You can see that the quality of the teams is very high – and it’s getting higher and higher all over the world. If you don’t give small countries the opportunity to participate in the World Cup, they will lack the motivation to continue improving themselves.”

That statement is highly contested. While there have been a few matches between up-and-coming nations and established international giants that have raised comment (usually due to the bravery of defending behind the low block), there has been one giant-killing action in 100 games so far. Ecuador beat Germany 2-1, even though the Germans had already qualified for the first round of the playoffs. Germany then lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.

The final four teams are the top four ranked teams in the world – Argentina, France, Spain and England. Morocco, which became the story of the 2022 World Cup and reached the semi-finals, in 2026 has maintained its status as the leading nation, but was eliminated in the quarter finals.

Still, Infantino already says the expanded 48-team format is a huge success. Financially, it is possible, although the stadiums have not yet been sold and FIFA was predicting a revenue of three billion dollars. In terms of ethics and sporting integrity, the tournament has been a disaster for FIFA to the extent that it has lost the trust of a growing number of its member organizations as well as the base of the football community as a whole. A list of dirty clothes that will be an important part of the legacy of this world cup and Infantino’s FIFA presidency.

At the FIFA conference in Paraguay in 2025, Dominguez urged FIFA member organizations to “think differently”, “innovate and think outside the box”.

“Football is for the world. We are changing football. We want the world to be part of the biggest team the world has seen so far. The biggest team in the world. No one can be left behind…”

“I would like to repeat – do not change your stance, but think together to do what the world expects, what football deserves. That is Conmebol’s proposal – let’s not dream too much.”

The problem is that bigger is not necessarily better and much of the 2026 World Cup has been dull and lacks the brilliance and excitement of competitive football.

FIFA has damaged itself and may be the Golden Egg for the 2026 World Cup. Imagine what it would do to the chaos of a 64-team tournament.

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