How a 64-team World Cup could transform football’s economics
Summary
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that having a 64-team World Cup could be considered in the future, which would increase the size of the tournament and change how football’s money is shared. A larger World Cup would need more stadiums and more time, possibly making the qualifying rounds less important and shifting financial power toward FIFA.Key Facts
- The 2026 World Cup will have 48 teams, the first increase since 1998’s 32-team format.
- A 64-team World Cup would have 128 matches, doubling the number from when there were 32 teams.
- More teams mean the tournament could last longer than the current five weeks.
- UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation have expressed concerns about expanding beyond 48 teams.
- Smaller countries could benefit from more spots in the tournament, encouraging development in global football.
- Hosting a 64-team event requires many stadiums, transport, hotels, and other resources.
- The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
- Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, facing challenges due to the timing of Ramadan affecting scheduling.
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