FIFA expansion plans mooted as populous nations miss 2026 World Cup
Despite the global footballing audience, major demographic powers remain excluded from the 48-team field, prompting calls for further tournament enlargement.
India and China, the world’s two most populous nations with a combined population of 2.89 billion, have failed to qualify for the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup. Their absence highlights the disconnect between demographic weight and footballing success, even as the tournament features the four highest-ranked teams from the previous edition: France, Spain, Argentina, and England.
China last qualified for the finals in 2002, where they lost all three group stage matches without scoring a goal. They currently sit 91st in the FIFA world rankings. Despite significant financial investment in football development, the Chinese domestic league has stalled, and the sport remains overshadowed by bureaucratic controls. India, meanwhile, has never reached the men’s World Cup. Eliminated in the second qualifying round behind Qatar and Kuwait, Indian football struggles with infrastructure deficits, climate challenges, and the dominance of cricket.
Other populous nations are also conspicuous by their absence. Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia have all missed out on the 48-team field. Nigeria, a traditional African football heavyweight, faced criticism for neglected talent development. Bangladesh’s men’s team went winless in their second-round qualifying group, scoring one goal and conceding 20. Ethiopia, ranked 143rd, faces security issues and a lack of international-standard stadiums, forcing them to play home matches abroad.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested that the tournament could expand to 64 teams in future editions, potentially for 2030 or 2034, to allow more global participation. Infantino argued that the whole world must be allowed to dream of the World Cup, not just Europe and South America. This proposal comes despite the tournament only recently expanding from 32 to 48 teams, with debutants such as Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo already demonstrating competitiveness.
Russia remains suspended from international competition due to the conflict in Ukraine, though indications suggest this may be lifted if football bodies follow the International Olympic Committee’s lead. The 2026 World Cup commenced in Mexico City on 11 June, featuring an opening ceremony headlined by Shakira, with Mexico securing a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opener.
