12.06.2026 23:01
FIFA President Gianni Infantino jokingly commented on the possibility of a 64-team World Cup, referencing Italy's failure to qualify for the tournament. Here are the details...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is back in the spotlight with his statements about the World Cup format.
''IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT THIS TIME...''
Speaking at an awards ceremony in Bari, Infantino touched on the increase in the number of teams in the World Cup and turned the conversation to Italy missing consecutive tournaments. Turning to Gravina, the top figure in Italian football, the FIFA President made a joke: "Gabriele, we increased the number of teams in the World Cup to 48. We did this just so Italy could qualify. If you can't make it this time, I'll have to expand the tournament to 64 or 128 teams!"
ITALY'S WORLD CUP LONGING
Although the blue-and-whites achieved great success by winning the EURO 2020 championship, they are going through nightmare years when it comes to the World Cup. This giant football nation missed out on the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar World Cups, causing great disappointment for their fans.
SPARKED DEBATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
While these remarks quickly resonated in the football world, Infantino's humorous outburst also became a widespread topic of debate on social media.