Former Spain captain and World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas has sparked fresh debate over the future of international football after suggesting that the FIFA World Cup should be expanded even further by adding 16 more national teams.

The tournament is already undergoing its biggest transformation in history. After featuring 32 teams for more than two decades, the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will welcome 48 nations, increasing the number of matches and giving more countries the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage. However, Casillas believes the expansion should not stop there.

According to the legendary goalkeeper, football has grown to such a global level that more nations deserve the chance to participate. He argues that many emerging football countries have made enormous progress over the past decade but continue to miss out because qualification remains fiercely competitive in several confederations. Expanding the field again, he believes, would make the World Cup an even greater celebration of the sport’s worldwide popularity.

Casillas’ proposal would raise the tournament to 64 teams, a format that would significantly increase the number of participating nations from every continent. Such a move could provide historic first appearances for countries that have never reached the finals while allowing fans from more regions to experience the excitement of seeing their national teams compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Not everyone agrees, however. Critics argue that the jump from 32 to 48 teams is already a dramatic change and that expanding further could dilute the quality of the competition. Some football analysts worry that more one-sided matches would become inevitable, while others point to the logistical challenges of scheduling additional fixtures without overloading players or extending the tournament even further.

Supporters of Casillas’ idea counter that football’s talent pool has never been deeper. Nations once considered outsiders have become increasingly competitive, regularly upsetting traditional powerhouses in international competitions. They believe a larger tournament would reflect the game’s global evolution and create new opportunities for developing football nations to gain valuable experience on the biggest stage.

The debate highlights a broader question facing FIFA: should the World Cup prioritize exclusivity and elite competition, or continue expanding to embrace football’s growing international reach? With the 48-team format yet to make its tournament debut, discussions about an eventual 64-team World Cup are already beginning.

Whether Casillas’ vision ever becomes reality remains uncertain, but his comments have once again ignited one of football’s most divisive conversations. As the sport continues to grow across every continent, the balance between competitiveness, inclusivity, and tradition will remain at the heart of the World Cup’s future.