The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a tremendous success, with record-breaking attendance and massive ratings. The tournament’s expansion to 48 teams has allowed smaller countries to participate and become fan favorites.
FIFA Considers Further Expansion
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced that discussions will start immediately about future expansion, potentially to 64 teams. This move would allow more countries to participate and could lead to increased revenue from broadcasts and ticket sales.
However, a 64-team format would also pose logistical challenges, including the need for more venues and a potentially lengthy qualifying process. The US, with its numerous large stadiums, could be an ideal host for such a tournament.
The US has roughly 75 stadiums with a capacity of over 60,000 seats, making it an attractive option for FIFA. The country’s ability to host a large tournament without significant updates to its venues could minimize costs and maximize ticket sales.
While other countries might object to the US becoming a permanent World Cup host, the success of the 2026 tournament has shown that America can be a fantastic host to visiting fans.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
