Infantino Defends Formats Expanding Football Calendar 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes there is nothing wrong with FIFA's expansion of the World Cup and Club World Cup.

Infantino made this known after being re-elected until 2027 despite criticisms trailing the unveiled formats of the 2026 World Cup and the 32-team Club World Cup which will take place every four years from June 2025.

FIFA announced this week that the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will see the number of teams increase from 32 to 48.

The world football governing body noted further that the tournament will have 104 matches rather than a projected 80 on the basis that 12 groups of four was preferred to the proposed format of 16 three-team groups.

It added that there will be a new last-32 round and countries will have to play eight matches to win the tournament, compared to seven at the 2022 World Cup.

This led to concerns being raised about the demands on players with La Liga saying Fifa's plans showed a "complete disregard" for the football community.

But reacting at the 73rd Congress in Rwanda where he was re-elected as president on Thursday, Infantino said there is a need for "way more" football.

"When I hear there is too much football, yes, maybe in some places, but not everywhere," said the president to delegates in Kigali.

"In fact, in most parts of the world, there is not enough football played.

"We need way more and not less competitions, we want football to develop worldwide.

"We are discussing organising a women's Club World Cup and a Fifa World Series in March every two years when teams are free from playing qualifiers."