Gianni Infantino has reportedly expressed support for expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, a move that could help secure his position as FIFA president amid uncertainty over his future.
Expansion plans and backlash
Uncertainty around Infantino's future followed news that FIFA had considered selling shares of its tournaments to private investors. The controversial scheme would have affected the men's and women's World Cups, as well as the Club World Cup, but was shelved after substantial backlash.
Since the proposals emerged, UEFA released statements outlining plans to boycott FIFA's major tournaments if the plans were still on the table. The 2030 World Cup will be shared across multiple nations, with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as primary hosts, while Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will each stage one match to mark the competition's 100th anniversary.
Support for 64-team format
The Times reported that Infantino would support expanding the tournament once more to accommodate 64 teams, despite the World Cup already having grown from 32 to 48 teams for this summer's competition in North America. The proposals were put forward by CONMEBOL, South America's governing football body, with reports suggesting Infantino is prepared to back the plans as he looks to secure the backing of more nations to retain his presidency.
The report suggests Infantino travelled to Colombia on Friday to attend the inauguration of the country's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, where discussions over a potential expansion are said to have taken place.
Trump's support
US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to voice his support for Infantino, writing: "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino. He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!"
