# FIFA considers expanding World Cup to 64 teams

FIFA is reportedly exploring a proposal to expand the men's World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, aiming to increase global participation and revenue. The move would significantly alter the tournament structure and qualifying process, potentially diluting competition quality. Critics argue it prioritizes commercial gain over sporting merit.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/13/football-daily-email-world-cup) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:12:40 GMT
- [Fox News Sports](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/how-watch-france-vs-spain-live-stream-2026-fifa-world-cup-semifinals) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:21:34 -0400

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/13/fifa-world-cup-five-biggest-controversies-of-the-2026-tournament?traffic_source=rss) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:33:41 +0000
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/17/world-cup-winners-to-receive-us-style-championship-rings-fifa-says?traffic_source=rss) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:02:35 +0000