ZAMBIA COULD ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR THE NEXT WORLD CUP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that football’s world governing body will review the possibility of expanding the FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams after the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.
Speaking after what he described as a highly successful expanded World Cup, Infantino said football should give every nation the opportunity to dream of playing on the biggest stage.
“The World Cup is for the whole world, not just Europe and South America,” Infantino said. “Smaller nations need opportunities to compete because that encourages football development.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, an increase from the traditional 32-team format. According to FIFA, the expanded tournament has already produced more competitive matches and allowed more countries to experience World Cup football.
One of the biggest success stories has been Africa, where nine of the ten African representatives progressed to the knockout stage. FIFA believes this is evidence that increasing the number of participating nations gives emerging football countries a genuine chance to compete with the world’s best.
If the World Cup expands again, Africa is expected to receive even more qualification spots, creating greater opportunities for countries like Zambia to be on football’s biggest stage.
For Zambia, a further expansion to 64 teams could significantly improve the Chipolopolo’s chances of qualifying for future FIFA World Cups.
Despite FIFA’s enthusiasm, several football leaders have expressed concerns.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin believes a 64-team World Cup would reduce the quality of the competition and make qualifying less meaningful.
The President of the Asian Football Confederation has also warned that another expansion could create logistical challenges and make the tournament difficult to manage.
Meanwhile, Concacaf President Victor Montagliani says the current 48-team format should first be given time to prove itself before any further changes are considered.
A 64-team World Cup would involve 128 matches, making it the biggest tournament in football history. Hosting such an event would require enormous investment in stadiums, transport, accommodation, and security.
Countries hosting future tournaments, including Saudi Arabia in 2034, could face major logistical challenges if the expansion is approved.
FIFA says no final decision has been made. The proposal will be discussed with football stakeholders after the 2026 FIFA World Cup before any official vote is taken.
For Zambia and many other developing football nations, however, the possibility of a 64-team World Cup represents more than just an expanded tournament—it could be a historic opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage and inspire a new generation of players.