Infantino Hints at 64-Team World Cup, Jokes About Italy’s Chances

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has humorously suggested that Italy could stand a better chance of qualifying for future World Cups if the tournament is expanded to 64 teams.

His comments come amid ongoing discussions about potentially increasing the number of participating nations at the 2030 World Cup, which is already expected to feature a special centenary format.

Italy, a four-time world champion, have struggled in recent years, missing out on qualification for the 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions of the tournament. Their repeated absence has sparked widespread concern among fans and football stakeholders.

Infantino made the remark during an interview with a Brazilian broadcaster ahead of the World Cup opener in Mexico City, where he acknowledged that expansion proposals have been discussed at FIFA council level.

The idea of a 64-team tournament has been strongly backed by South American football officials, who believe it could help broaden global participation and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the competition, first held in Uruguay in 1930.

However, not all reactions have been positive. Critics argue that further expansion could dilute the quality of the competition, while some football officials, including Italy’s sports minister, have expressed confusion over the FIFA president’s comments.

Infantino clarified that any decision would depend on the success of the current 48-team format before further changes are considered.

The proposal remains under discussion, with no final decision yet taken on whether the World Cup will expand beyond its current structure in the coming editions.