How a 64-team World Cup could transform soccer’s economics
DALLAS: The first 48-team World Cup has barely finished, but Gianni Infantino has already acknowledged the possibility that soccer’s biggest tournament could one day grow larger still, a move that could fundamentally alter the economics of the sport. Speaking to Swiss television during the tournament, the FIFA president said a 64-team World Cup was among the ideas that could be examined once the finals were over, reopening debate over how large the game’s showpiece event can realistically become. The logistical implications of another expansion are obvious. A bigger tournament would require more stadiums, more hotels, more transport and, most likely, more time. But the financial implications could prove even more significant.
