FIFA may expand the number of national teams in the World Cup for next year.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the idea of a 64-team World Cup has been discussed within the institution. However, he emphasized that the current priority is evaluating the new 48-team format, which is being implemented for the first time in this edition.
According to Infantino, any decision will depend on the sporting, organizational, and financial results that the current tournament yields. FIFA’s goal remains to expand participation and involve more federations from around the world.
During his statements, Infantino also commented on Italy’s absence from the 2026 World Cup, marking the third consecutive time they have missed out. He mocked the situation, saying that perhaps Italy could qualify if the tournament featured 64 teams.
“Maybe Italy qualifies with 64 national teams. Who knows, maybe we even go up to 208,” Infantino stated.
