FIFA will consider expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, a move that could create more opportunities for African countries while increasing the commercial and logistical demands of football’s biggest competition.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said the organization would examine the proposal through its committees after the ongoing World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The 2026 edition is the first to feature 48 teams, up from the 32-team format used since 1998.
The proposed expansion would add another 16 countries and could produce 16 groups of four teams. It would also increase the tournament to about 128 matches, compared with the 104 games scheduled under the current 48-team structure.
FIFA has not made a final decision.
“These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup,” Infantino said.
Africa’s performance strengthens expansion argument
Infantino has presented greater inclusion as one of the main reasons FIFA should remain open to another expansion.
He said countries outside Europe and South America need more opportunities to compete at the highest level, arguing that World Cup qualification encourages smaller football nations to invest in development.
“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup,” he said.
The performance of African teams at the 2026 tournament has strengthened his position. Nine of Africa’s 10 representatives reached the knockout stage, compared with only five African participants at the 2022 competition in Qatar.
FIFA said Africa and Asia received a combined 17 direct qualification places and two intercontinental play-off opportunities for the expanded 2026 tournament. Oceania also secured a guaranteed place for the first time.
For African football, a 64-team format could produce more qualification slots and allow countries that have traditionally struggled to reach the tournament to compete on the global stage.
It could also increase investment in stadiums, academies, coaching and domestic football as national associations seek to take advantage of the additional places.
2030 centenary drives expansion proposal
South American football authorities first pushed the proposal as part of plans to celebrate the World Cup’s 100th anniversary in 2030.
Uruguay hosted and won the first edition in 1930. The country will stage an opening match in 2030 alongside Argentina and Paraguay before most of the competition moves to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Portugal.
The proposal would turn the centenary tournament into the largest World Cup in history.
Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American football confederation, has argued that the anniversary offers FIFA an opportunity to make the tournament more inclusive.
Infantino previously said FIFA should consider every proposal for making the centenary celebration special. However, the plan has also faced opposition within football’s leadership.
Victor Montagliani, president of the North and Central American football confederation, questioned the need to discuss 64 teams before FIFA had fully assessed the 48-team format.
Bigger tournament could generate more revenue
A 64-team World Cup would create additional ticket sales, broadcasting inventory, sponsorship opportunities, and host-city activity.
FIFA expects the 2026 tournament to generate between 13 billion and 14 billion Swiss francs, supported by high stadium attendance, ticket sales, and commercial partnerships.
Adding another 24 matches in 2030 could increase FIFA’s income and give broadcasters more live content to sell to advertisers.
Host countries could also benefit from longer hotel stays, higher transport demand, and increased spending by traveling supporters.
Morocco, which will become the second African country to host World Cup matches after South Africa, could gain from the wider tourism and infrastructure opportunities attached to a larger competition.
However, greater revenue would come with higher operating costs.
Logistics could limit future hosts
A 64-team tournament would require more training facilities, hotels, transport systems, security personnel, and match venues.
The expansion could make it difficult for a single country to host future editions, encouraging FIFA to rely increasingly on joint bids.
The 2030 tournament already involves six countries across Africa, Europe, and South America, creating significant travel and scheduling demands.
A larger World Cup could also place more pressure on players, clubs, and domestic leagues. Football’s international calendar already includes league competitions, continental tournaments, Club World Cups, and national team fixtures.
More World Cup matches may force organizers to extend the competition or schedule games more closely together.
Critics also fear that a 64-team tournament could weaken the qualifying process by allowing about one-third of FIFA’s member associations to reach the finals.
What this means
Expanding the World Cup would give African, Asian, Caribbean, and Oceanian countries a better chance of qualifying.
For supporters, it could introduce new teams and football cultures to the global audience. For FIFA, broadcasters, and sponsors, it could create a larger commercial product with more matches and consumers.
However, FIFA must decide whether the benefits of wider representation outweigh the risks of higher costs, player fatigue, and a crowded football calendar.
The success of the 48-team tournament will play a major role in that decision.
If FIFA concludes that the expanded format improved competition without reducing quality, the 2030 World Cup could become a 64-team centenary celebration and the biggest football tournament ever staged.
