British BulletinBritish Bulletin
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Tech & Science
  • Travel
  • Spotlight
  • More
    • Press Release
What's On

Edson Alvarez: West Ham and Mexico midfielder denies kidnapping accusation

11 September 2026

Oasis drone display teases new tour announcement | Manchester News

11 September 2026

John Healey could be forced into ’emergency Budget’ as borrowing costs hit decades-high levels

11 September 2026

Ben Leo pens furious response after claiming Netflix mocked Charlie Kirk death with ‘repugnant’ post

11 September 2026

I watched as 9/11 plane flew over my home – moments later my wife was killed | UK News

11 September 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Web Stories
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
British Bulletin
Subscribe
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Tech & Science
  • Travel
  • Spotlight
  • More
    • Press Release
British BulletinBritish Bulletin
Home ยป World Cup 2026: Could Gianni Infantino push through a 64-team tournament?
Sports

World Cup 2026: Could Gianni Infantino push through a 64-team tournament?

By britishbulletin.com20 July 20263 Mins Read
World Cup 2026: Could Gianni Infantino push through a 64-team tournament?
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

A 64-team tournament has two main plus points: a more natural format, and more opportunities for emerging nations.

It is the latter which Infantino is championing, especially after the heroics of Cape Verde.

Fifa faced criticism before the tournament, with suggestions the additional teams would not be competitive.

Then Cape Verde drew with Spain and Uruguay to finish second in their group. And the Blue Sharks gave Argentina an almighty scare by taking them to extra time in the last 16, before losing 3-2.

But the fairytale stories must be balanced with the competitive edge of the tournament.

Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Panama, Tunisia and Uzbekistan failed to pick up a point – and this summer’s group stage had minimal jeopardy for the top nations.

Add more teams and it would be difficult to see a repeat of top-four seeds like Belgium (2022), Germany (2018), Spain (2014), Italy (2010) and France (2002) failing to make to knockout stage.

Then there is the question of where the extra places would go.

Based on this year’s qualifying, these are the additional countries who would have made it into a 64-team World Cup 2026 (with their Fifa ranking at the start of the tournament in brackets):

AFC: Indonesia (118), Oman (79), United Arab Emirates (68).

Uefa: Denmark (21), Italy (12), Poland (36).

Concacaf: Honduras (65), Jamaica (71), Suriname (125).

Conmebol: Bolivia (77), Venezuela (49).

OFC: New Caledonia (151).

Africa: Burkina Faso (62), Cameroon (44), Gabon (86), Nigeria (26).

Six of those teams are from the top 50 of Fifa’s world rankings – three from Europe, two from Africa and one from South America.

And therein lies the problem. Asia and Concacaf are weaker confederations, as was proven by performances this year.

Nine of Africa’s 10 countries got out of the group stage. But only two of nine Asian countries advanced, and just three of the six Concacaf countries – the co-hosts – made it through.

New Zealand, who got one point and finished bottom of their group, are the only country from Oceania in the world’s top 150.

There is an argument that if you extend again, you should give a greater weight of places to Europe just for competitive balance.

But, on the other hand, there are those who would argue that bringing more teams into the World Cup ultimately allows the game to develop further in those countries.

Infantino will sell the expansion as being good for the global game, but there have to be doubts that it is good for the competition.

Almost a third of Fifa’s 211 nations would be present.

Would the group stage not simply become a glorified pan-confederation qualifying competition for what is, essentially, a knockout tournament?

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Keep Reading

Edson Alvarez: West Ham and Mexico midfielder denies kidnapping accusation

Five things to watch in EFL: High-flying Sheffield Wednesday and boing-ing West Brom

World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Everything you need to know about new global competition

Allan Saint-Maximin: Children ‘don’t have to accept’ being racially abused

British and Irish Lions women: One year to historic first Test against Black Ferns

US Open 2026 results: Elena Rybakina beats Coco Gauff to set up Aryna Sabalenka final

Football gossip: Zubimendi, Icardi, Martial, Palestra, Scalvini, Maatsen, Nketiah

Fenerbahce boss announces shock resignation after Roma draw in Champions League

Champions League highlights: Bayern Munich 5-0 Bodo/Glimt

Editors Picks

Oasis drone display teases new tour announcement | Manchester News

11 September 2026

John Healey could be forced into ’emergency Budget’ as borrowing costs hit decades-high levels

11 September 2026

Ben Leo pens furious response after claiming Netflix mocked Charlie Kirk death with ‘repugnant’ post

11 September 2026

I watched as 9/11 plane flew over my home – moments later my wife was killed | UK News

11 September 2026

Subscribe to News

Get the latest Brittan News and Updates directly to your inbox.

Latest News

Five things to watch in EFL: High-flying Sheffield Wednesday and boing-ing West Brom

11 September 2026

Birmingham’s first halal food hall burns down just six months after opening

11 September 2026

Prince Harry confirms his first public engagements in England since returning to the UK with Meghan

11 September 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest TikTok Instagram
© 2026 British Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.