Any additional growth of the World Cup, growing the variety of groups collaborating within the finals to 64, will likely be mentioned after this yr’s version, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated with out offering any particulars.
The 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico, and america have seen 48 groups for the primary time, a choice that was closely criticised however which has not provoked a lot debate for the reason that event kicked off on June 11.
“These are all points that we are going to be analyzing after the World Cup,” Infantino, who efficiently pushed for the growth of the finals from 32 groups, informed Swiss tv outlet Blue Sport.
He didn’t elaborate, saying solely: “I believe it is crucial that while you need to organise a World Cup, you do it for the entire world — not simply Europe and South America, however successfully your entire world.
The expanded 48-team World Cup has seen groups like Cabo Verde have great success at this event. (Getty Photographs: Michael Regan)
“Each nation ought to be allowed to dream of collaborating within the World Cup. You’ll be able to see that the standard of the groups is extraordinarily excessive and it is getting greater and better, all around the world,” Infantino stated.
“When you do not give smaller nations an opportunity to take part within the World Cup, they will lack the motivation to maintain enhancing.”
Infantino hailed the 48-team event as successful, saying: “Each staff performed at a excessive stage. Groups from each continent scored targets and earned not less than one level.
“9 out of 10 African groups reached the knockout stage. On the final World Cup, there have been solely 5 groups from Africa. That simply goes to point out how necessary it’s to incorporate all groups, to offer them this chance to take part,” he added.
The dimensions of the World Cup discipline was elevated to 32 groups in 1998. The subsequent finals in 2030 are to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, and the 2034 event will likely be in Saudi Arabia.
Infantino defends controversial hydration break and ticket costs
Infantino, who hardly ever provides media interviews and has restricted his variety of formal press conferences, admitted that introducing hydration breaks throughout every half, which many have seen as a cynical try to assist tv companions get extra promoting income, had proved controversial.
FIFA’s hydration break farce the final word insult for weary World Cup followers
“It is a matter that sparks a variety of debate. In any case, we do not need to get all the pieces excellent; we like to offer everybody one thing to disagree with … no, joking apart. Final yr, throughout the Membership World Cup within the USA, there have been cooling breaks each time it was highly regarded.
“These quick breaks occurred in about 60 per cent of the matches, however not within the different 40 per cent as a result of the temperature wasn’t as excessive. There have been many complaints, as the sensation was that each one groups ought to face the identical circumstances,” he stated.
He additionally defended the excessive ticket costs on the World Cup, saying: “The stadiums are full; capability utilisation is at 99.7 per cent and it’ll seemingly attain 99.9 per cent by the tip.
“Consultants decided the ticket costs earlier than the event. Our specialists labored on that and informed us: ‘These are the costs you possibly can go along with’. We see the proof now: costs that some individuals claimed have been too excessive are being resold on the secondary market —which is completely authorized right here — for 4 or 5 occasions the unique price.”
Infantino stated he anticipated FIFA to generate a complete of 13 to 14 billion Swiss francs ($23.12 billion to $24.91 billion AUD) from the 39-day World Cup. “That’s fairly passable,” he stated.
Reuters
