20 July 2026
Infantino Eyes 64 Teams as World Cup Expansion Talks Begin
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has signalled that further expansion of the World Cup beyond 48 teams could be on the table for 2030.
The ink has barely dried on Spain's 2026 triumph and already the future shape of the World Cup is under discussion, according to Sky Sports.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has indicated that talks about expanding the tournament further, potentially to 64 teams, will now begin following the conclusion of the 2026 edition. Sky Sports reports that South American co-hosts Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are pushing to stage more games at the 2030 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted across six countries including Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Any such expansion would present significant logistical hurdles, Sky Sports notes, given the already complex arrangements required for a six-nation tournament. The 2026 edition, with 48 teams, was already the longest World Cup in history, raising questions about whether a further increase in scale would serve the sport or stretch it beyond its natural limits.
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