MEXICO CITY (AP) — FIFA president Gianni Infantino joked that Italy might finally qualify for the World Cup if the tournament expands to 64 teams in 2030, after the four-time champions missed three consecutive editions.
Speaking to Brazilian digital broadcaster CazeTV before Thursday’s opener in Mexico City, Infantino said discussions about enlarging the competition had been presented to the FIFA Council. “Maybe Italy qualify with 64 teams, or we could even go up to 208 teams,” he said with a laugh as he entered Azteca Stadium. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the first match of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Italy, once a dominant force in world football, failed to qualify for Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and now North America 2026. The absence of the Azzurri has been a source of frustration for fans and officials in a country where football is deeply tied to national identity.
South American Football Confederation president Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay has promoted a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the first edition, held in Uruguay in 1930. The centenary tournament will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with symbolic matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Infantino cautioned that FIFA must first evaluate how the 48 team format works in 2026 before considering further expansion. Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi said he was “perplexed” by Infantino’s remarks and wanted to speak with him directly to clarify the comments.
Globally, the debate over expansion reflects football’s growing reach and commercial appeal. Supporters argue that more teams would give smaller nations a chance to compete on the world stage, while critics warn that enlarging the field could dilute quality and strain logistics.
Italy’s struggles highlight how even traditional powers can falter in modern football. Despite winning four World Cups, the team has been unable to adapt to changing dynamics, including the rise of nations with stronger youth development programs and more competitive domestic leagues.
The expansion debate also carries financial implications. A larger tournament would mean more matches, more broadcasting rights, and potentially greater revenue for FIFA, but it would also require complex scheduling and infrastructure across multiple host nations.
For Italy, Infantino’s joke underscored a serious reality: one of football’s most storied nations remains absent from the sport’s biggest stage, raising questions about its future competitiveness in a rapidly changing global game.
