India and China hope the World Cup expansion can open the qualification door

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Norway and England in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP)

ZURICH, July 14: France, Argentina, Spain and England — the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA world rankings — have secured places in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. However, some of the world’s most populous nations are still waiting for their chance to reach football’s biggest stage.

A potential expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams could open the door for more countries to qualify in future editions, giving football giants in terms of population renewed hope of making their mark.

India and China, home to a combined population of 2.89 billion people, boast millions of passionate football supporters, yet both nations remain largely absent from the World Cup. The current tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada features 48 teams for the first time.

The semifinals have brought together the tournament’s four highest-ranked sides, with France meeting Spain and Argentina facing England.

China’s only World Cup appearance came in 2002 in South Korea and Japan, where they exited in the group stage after losing all three matches without scoring. Despite major financial investment in football development, the country has struggled to make significant progress.

India, meanwhile, has never qualified for the men’s World Cup, with cricket and hockey remaining the country’s most dominant sports despite football’s growing popularity.

While a large population does not automatically translate into football success, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has raised hopes for nations such as India and China by backing discussions over a possible 64-team World Cup format for future editions.

“We must allow the whole world to dream of the World Cup, not only Europe and South America,” Infantino told Swiss outlet Blue Sport on Saturday.