Infantino Opens Door to 64-Team World Cup as Super Eagles Eye Qualification Boost

Posted : 13 July 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that football's governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams ahead of the 2030 tournament, a move that could improve Nigeria's chances of returning to the global stage.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, with the expanded format widely praised for increasing global representation and producing competitive matches. Encouraged by that success, FIFA is now considering whether another expansion would further strengthen the tournament.

Speaking to Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino said the proposal would be reviewed by FIFA's committees after the conclusion of the current World Cup.

"It is certainly an issue that will be examined and discussed after this World Cup," Infantino said. He added that the competition should represent the entire football world rather than only traditional powerhouses from Europe and South America. He also argued that giving smaller nations a realistic path to qualification encourages continued investment and development in football.

A 64-team tournament would increase the number of participating nations by another 16. Although FIFA has not announced how additional places would be distributed among the confederations, Africa would be expected to receive more qualification slots if the proposal is approved.

That scenario could benefit Nigeria's Super Eagles, who have missed the last two FIFA World Cups despite being one of Africa's most successful national teams. The team is aiming to end its World Cup absence after failing to qualify for Qatar 2022 and the ongoing 2026 finals.

An expanded tournament would likely reduce the difficulty of qualification for many African nations. However, it would not remove the need for strong performances during the qualification campaign. Nigeria has struggled with inconsistency in recent years, making qualification far from automatic regardless of the number of available places.

The proposal is still at an early stage and has attracted mixed reactions across world football. Supporters believe a larger tournament would promote global inclusion, while critics argue that increasing the number of participants could reduce the competition's overall quality and prestige.

For now, FIFA's focus remains on completing the 2026 World Cup, with formal discussions on any further expansion expected to begin once the tournament concludes. Any decision on a 64-team format would need approval through FIFA's governance process before it could be introduced for the 2030 edition.

Infantino Opens Door to 64-Team World Cup as Super Eagles Eye Qualification Boost

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