FIFA President Gianni Infantino just watched the first 48-team World Cup kick off across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. His immediate reaction: that’s not enough teams.

Infantino announced on July 12 that expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams will be formally examined by FIFA committees after the current tournament wraps up. The target would be the 2030 edition, and the proposal traces back to South America’s football confederation, CONMEBOL, which floated the idea in April 2025.

From 32 to 48 to possibly 64

The World Cup operated with 32 teams from 1998 through 2022. The jump to 48 for the 2026 edition was itself controversial, with critics arguing it would dilute competitive quality. Now, before anyone has even finished digesting the 48-team format, the conversation has leapfrogged to 64.

A 64-team field would mean roughly 30% of FIFA’s 211 member associations could qualify for the tournament.

CONMEBOL’s original pitch was specifically designed as a one-off 64-team tournament that would allow more matches to be played in South America for the 2030 edition. Infantino appears to have taken that regional request and turned it into a broader vision about global participation, with a particular emphasis on expanding access for nations outside Europe and South America.

“It will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino stated.

Why crypto markets are paying attention

FIFA has already planted its flag in the blockchain space. FIFA Collect, the organization’s NFT platform built on the Avalanche blockchain, has generated over $25 million in sales tied to fan engagement and digital collectibles. That figure comes from the existing tournament structure. Adding 16 more qualifying nations would meaningfully expand the addressable audience for these products.

Platforms like Chiliz, which powers fan tokens for major sports organizations, have historically seen trading volume spikes around World Cup cycles. The logic is straightforward: when a nation qualifies for the World Cup, interest in that country’s fan token surges. More qualifying nations equals more tokens experiencing demand-driven price movements.

What this means for investors

Chiliz and its CHZ token are the most direct play. The platform already facilitates fan token trading for dozens of football organizations, and World Cup expansion would bring new national team tokens into the ecosystem.

Avalanche’s positioning as FIFA Collect’s blockchain of choice is worth monitoring separately. The $25 million in NFT sales already recorded demonstrates meaningful traction, and a larger tournament could push that figure significantly higher.

The risk side deserves equal attention, though. FIFA committee discussions are notoriously slow, and there’s genuine opposition to further expansion from European football associations concerned about fixture congestion and competitive quality. If the 64-team proposal stalls or gets watered down, any speculative premium baked into sports tokens could unwind quickly.

Once the 2026 tournament ends, FIFA’s committees will begin formal deliberations. Traders should watch for signals from CONMEBOL and UEFA, whose competing visions for the sport’s future will largely determine whether 64 teams becomes reality.