FIFA Kaji Wacana Tambah Peserta Piala Dunia Menjadi 64 Tim

Federasi Sepak Bola Internasional (FIFA) tengah mempertimbangkan rencana untuk memperluas jumlah peserta Piala Dunia menjadi 64 tim menyusul kesuksesan format 48 tim di Amerika Utara pada Juli 2026. Langkah ini diambil guna mengevaluasi format kompetisi demi memberikan kesempatan lebih luas bagi negara-negara di seluruh dunia.

Rencana penambahan kuota tersebut memicu perdebatan di kalangan penggemar karena kekhawatiran atas meningkatnya beban fisik pemain. Meski dihadapkan pada sorotan isu korupsi dan kontroversi penangguhan kartu merah striker AS Folarin Balogun, Presiden FIFA Gianni Infantino tetap optimistis mengevaluasi format kompetisi.

Kebijakan penambahan peserta dari 32 menjadi 48 tim dinilai memberikan dampak positif terhadap peta persaingan sepak bola global tanpa menurunkan kualitas pertandingan. Evaluasi mendalam mengenai usulan ekspansi ini baru akan dibahas oleh komite terkait setelah seluruh rangkaian turnamen edisi kali ini selesai.

"It’s been a huge success with 48 teams. Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage." ujar Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Infantino menambahkan bahwa penambahan kuota memberikan kesempatan besar bagi negara-negara di luar kekuatan tradisional Eropa dan Amerika Selatan untuk bersaing di panggung tertinggi.

"At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams—to give them this opportunity to participate." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Keputusan resmi mengenai penambahan jumlah tim peserta menjadi 64 ini baru akan dibahas secara mendalam oleh komite FIFA setelah seluruh rangkaian turnamen edisi kali ini selesai diselenggarakan.

"That’s definitely an issue that will be examined after this World Cup. When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Pluang negara-negara kecil untuk tampil di ajang internasional dianggap menjadi motivasi utama bagi perkembangan sepak bola di wilayah mereka masing-masing.

"Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Selain membahas format turnamen, Infantino juga mengungkapkan kedekatan komunikasi dengan Presiden Amerika Serikat Donald Trump terkait jalannya kompetisi.

"Yes, 100 percent! It’s been a huge success with 48 teams. Every team played at a high level.

Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of ten African teams reached the knockout stage." ujar Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Sistem kualifikasi baru menuju babak 32 besar dinilai sangat memungkinkan diterapkan jika format 64 tim benar-benar disetujui di masa depan.

"That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup. When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world—not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.

You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high—and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Infantino juga menyatakan dukungannya secara emosional kepada tim nasional Swiss ketika mereka bertanding di atas lapangan.

"Definitely with Switzerland. You just have to make sure you behave properly. But of course, something stirs inside me when Switzerland plays." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Meski belum terlihat menghadiri pertandingan secara langsung di stadion akibat kesibukan agenda kenegaraan, Donald Trump dilaporkan terus memantau turnamen melalui televisi.

"Yes, we're in touch regularly. Almost every day—he's happy and really enjoys the tournament. He watches all the games on TV." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Pemerintah Amerika Serikat dinilai telah melakukan pekerjaan yang sangat baik dalam menyukseskan operasional Piala Dunia 2026 bersama dengan negara tuan rumah lainnya.

"No, no, I suppose he still has a few other things to do … And when he’s at the stadium, people will ask, “What’s he doing at the stadium when there’s so much going on in the world?” I’m always in touch with him and his government, which is doing a great job with the World Cup." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Sesuai dengan tradisi turnamen, pemimpin negara tuan rumah dijadwalkan akan menyerahkan trofi juara kepada tim pemenang di akhir kompetisi.

"Yes, hopefully we'll present the trophy together in the final. That's always been the plan—and that's how it's always been done in the past—for the president of the country hosting the final to present the trophy together with the FIFA president." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Rencana kehadiran Donald Trump di podium juara juga telah dikonfirmasi oleh pihak FIFA kepada media Fox sebelum turnamen sepak bola akbar ini dimulai.

"We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course." kata Gianni Infantino, Presiden FIFA.

Pertandingan final Piala Dunia 2026 dijadwalkan berlangsung di Stadion New York New Jersey pada hari Minggu, 19 Juli 2026.