By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that there are plans for a 64-team men's World Cup in the future.
Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, is in favour of the idea, having stated that the tournament should be "for the whole world" and added:
"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup. When organising a World Cup, it's important to organise it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.”
An official proposal to boost the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams has been put forward by the South American governing body, Conmebol, but no decision has yet been taken.
The 2030 edition will be mainly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the three opening matches to be hosted by Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to celebrate the centenary of the competition, Uruguay having hosted the first World Cup in 1930.
The proposal for a 64-team World Cup has received mixed reactions.
For example, Aleksander Ceferin, the President of UEFA has stated that the proposal, is a "bad idea" for the tournament and the qualifying process.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the President of the Asian Football Confederation, agrees, stating that the proposal would bring "chaos".
However, Andrew Giuliani, the Executive Director of the White House World Cup task force, has remarked that the United States could consider making a bid to host the 2038 World Cup and would be able to "handle it" if expanded to 64 teams.
If the tournament were expanded, almost a third of the 211 FIFA member countries would qualify, and more revenue could be distributed.
The decision rests with the FIFA Council, and nothing is expected to happen very soon.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘