With an expanded World Cup — from 38 to 48 teams in 2026 — expected to generate an extra $1 billion in revenues, FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan, would involve 48 nations playingin 16 groups of three teams, is expected to pass the new FIFA council.
Many feel the 32-team format is the best — Reinhard Grindel, president of the German federation, noted hisorganization was “fundamentally convinced that the tried-and-tested model of 32 participating nations should be held” — but no other nation has so far publicly opposed Infantino’s idea.