Gianni Infantino could not resist taking a playful dig at Italy during the opening match of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. A joke that is unlikely to be appreciated on the other side of the Alps.
The FIFA president raised eyebrows when discussing the tournament’s new format, which has expanded from 32 to 48 teams. Infantino revealed that FIFA had even considered increasing the competition to 64 nations before ultimately deciding to keep the current structure.
Infantino Mocks Italy’s World Cup Struggles
That was when Infantino delivered a particularly sharp comment aimed at the Azzurri. “We even discussed the possibility of expanding to 64 teams in order to involve more of the football world. The proposal was debated by the Council, but for now let’s enjoy this first edition with 48 teams. With 64 teams, Italy might qualify. We might even need to go up to 228,” he joked during an interview with Brazilian broadcaster CazéTV.
The remark was a direct reference to Italy’s remarkable run of failures to qualify for the World Cup, with the four-time world champions set to miss the tournament for a third consecutive edition. It remains a major embarrassment for one of football’s most decorated nations.
While some observers found the comment amusing, it is likely to be far less popular in Italy. Seeing the FIFA president publicly joke about the Squadra Azzurra has not gone unnoticed just days before the start of the tournament.
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