The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 national teams for the first time in history, marking an unprecedented expansion in the tournament’s size and triggering widespread debate over whether the change will reduce the level of excitement and unpredictability that has long defined football’s biggest event.

The expansion reflects one of the key proposals made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino after he took office in 2016, advocating for a larger tournament to give more nations the opportunity to participate.

Infantino has previously emphasized that the World Cup should not be viewed solely as a sporting competition, but also as a global social event representing the growing diversity of football worldwide.

Historically, the tournament has undergone several stages of expansion, beginning with 16 teams for many editions before increasing to 24 teams in 1982, reflecting football’s gradual global development.

In earlier editions, European teams dominated participation, with the 1978 World Cup in Argentina featuring 10 European teams out of 16, while the 1990 tournament in Italy included 14 European teams out of 24, highlighting the evolving geographical balance of the competition over time.