FIFA opens the door to the biggest World Cup in history.. studying an increase in the number of teams to 64

FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed that a study is underway to increase the number of teams participating in the men’s World Cup to 64, in a move that could mark the biggest expansion in the history of the global tournament.

Infantino explained that the proposal will be put up for discussion after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which will, for the first time, feature 48 teams instead of 32 under the tournament’s new format.

If the expanded format is approved, the number of World Cup matches is expected to rise from 104 in the 2026 edition to 128 matches, with the possibility of adopting a new qualification system for the knockout rounds that would allow the top two teams from each group to advance.

This direction comes as part of FIFA’s efforts to broaden global participation, after the increase in the number of teams in the upcoming edition proved capable of offering greater opportunities for teams from different continents to compete on the World Cup stage.