Gianni Infantino, president of the FIFA, has defended the decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament is organized by three nations.

In comments reported by Spanish newspaper Marca, Infantino said the expansion would increase competitiveness and broaden opportunities for more nations to compete at the highest level.

Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, he stated: “I want around 50 countries to be capable of winning the World Cup out of 211 member associations.”

He added that the goal is to expand investment in global football and reduce the historical dominance of European teams, promoting a more competitive and balanced international game.