Infantino’s 64-Team World Cup Dream: Expansion or Overkill?

Gianni Infantino’s decade-long mantra of ‘more is better’ now points toward a 64-team World Cup. After expanding the tournament to 48 teams and inflating the Club World Cup, the FIFA president sees no reason to stop. He argues smaller nations need the incentive of participation to develop, despite debutants like Cape Verde proving they can qualify on merit.

The push for 64 teams comes primarily from CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez, who wants a one-off centenary format for 2030. With the tournament spanning South America and Europe, Dominguez claims it would leave ‘nobody on the planet out of the party.’ Yet UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin calls it a ‘bad idea,’ warning it would dilute both the World Cup and qualifying.

Critics argue that more teams would reduce competitive tension. At the 2026 World Cup, six nations failed to earn a single point, and top seeds rarely face early elimination. Adding 16 more sides could turn group stages into predictable routs. Even AFC president Sheikh Salman fears ‘chaos,’ though Infantino’s FIFA Council holds the final vote.

Supporters point to Cape Verde’s run to the last 16 as proof that emerging teams can shine. But balancing fairytales with elite competition is tricky. A 64-team format would require four extra groups and a streamlined knockout stage, eliminating third-place qualifiers. The question remains: is this about global inclusion or simply chasing more revenue?