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FIFA Mulls 64-Team World Cup Amid Revenue Boom, Critics Warn

7/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

FIFA will examine expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament.
FIFA projects record $9 billion revenue from the 2026 World Cup, which Gianni Infantino called a huge success after nine African teams reached the knockout stage.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said the 64-team plan is a bad idea because of qualification concerns.

History

Historical Context

In 1998 FIFA expanded the finals from 24 to 32 teams, staging the tournament in France under president Sepp Blatter. The move set a precedent that Gianni Infantino, who championed the 48-team 2026 expansion, now references as FIFA debates further enlarging the World Cup, prompting confederation leaders to warn about qualification fairness.

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Story summary

FIFA will examine expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament.
FIFA projects record $9 billion revenue from the 2026 World Cup, which Gianni Infantino called a huge success after nine African teams reached the knockout stage.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said the 64-team plan is a bad idea because of qualification concerns.

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