12 July 2026
Infantino Eyes 64-Team World Cup After 2026 Wraps Up
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says any further expansion of the World Cup, to 64 teams, will only be discussed once the 2026 edition concludes.
The debate over growing the World Cup even further is being kept on ice, at least for now. According to Reuters, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that any talks about expanding the tournament from 48 to 64 teams will not begin until after the 2026 edition is finished.
The 48-team format made its debut at this year's finals across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Despite heavy criticism when the decision was first announced, Infantino noted the expanded field has generated little controversy since the tournament kicked off on 11 June.
On the financial side, Infantino said FIFA expects to generate between 13 and 14 billion Swiss francs from the 39-day event, a figure he described as "quite satisfactory." Whether that appetite for growth translates into a 64-team World Cup from 2030 onward remains an open question.
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