FIFA eyes 64-team World Cup: More nations, more dreams!

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that any further expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams will be discussed after the conclusion of the current 48-team tournament. This year's event in Canada, Mexico, and the United States marked the first time 48 teams have participated in the finals.

Infantino emphasized FIFA's goal of inclusivity, stating that every nation should have the dream of participating in the World Cup. He highlighted the success of the 48-team format, noting that teams from every continent scored goals and earned points, with a significant increase in African teams reaching the knockout stage compared to previous tournaments.

Additionally, Infantino addressed controversial aspects of the tournament, including hydration breaks and ticket prices. He explained that hydration breaks were introduced to ensure consistent conditions for all teams, a measure debated for potential advertising benefits.

He also defended the ticket prices, pointing to the high stadium occupancy rate of 99.7% and the fact that tickets are being resold at significantly higher prices on the secondary market. FIFA anticipates generating 13 to 14 billion Swiss francs from the 39-day event.