FIFA President Gianni Infantino's tenure has been marked by a consistent drive to expand tournaments and increase commercial revenue.

Since his election as FIFA president in 2016, Gianni Infantino has pursued a strategy of expanding football tournaments and increasing the organization's commercial reach. This approach has included plans for a 48-team World Cup, a 32-team Club World Cup, and recent proposals to sell a share of the World Cup's commercial rights to outside investors. These initiatives have occurred alongside significant growth in FIFA's total revenues.

History of Expansion Proposals

Infantino’s tenure has featured numerous proposals to grow the scale of international football. In 2017, it was confirmed that the World Cup would expand to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament. Other initiatives have included a 32-team Club World Cup, the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, and a 2030 World Cup structure spanning three continents and six countries. Plans for a biennial World Cup were also announced at the end of 2021.

Motivations and Future Speculation

Observers have suggested various motivations for Infantino's focus on expansion, ranging from securing a supportive electorate through redistributed funds to a personal pursuit of status and power. Recent reports in the Times have speculated that Infantino could become the CEO of a new commercial venture after his presidency, potentially receiving corporate-level remuneration. FIFA has denied that any such discussions have occurred.