June 12, 2026
A speech by President of FIFA Gianni Infantino is broadcasted on a screen during a ceremony in the capital Riyadh on December 11, 2024, as the FIFA Congress votes for the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup with Saudi Arabia being the sole candidate. (Photo by AFP)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino joked that struggling Italy might manage to qualify for the World Cup if the competition was expanded from 48 to 64 teams in 2030.
Four-time world champions Italy failed to qualify for Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and now North America 2026, the first edition to feature 48 teams.
“We have had discussions about expanding to 64 teams … the matter was presented to the FIFA council,” Infantino told Brazilian digital broadcaster CazeTV on Thursday before the World Cup opener, which Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa.
