‘64-Team World Cup Can Help, But…’: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Urges India to First Break Into Asia’s Top 15

India captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has expressed cautious optimism over the possibility of the FIFA World Cup expanding to 64 teams, saying the move could improve India’s chances of qualifying in the future. However, the experienced goalkeeper believes the national team’s immediate priority should be securing a place among Asia’s top 15 footballing nations.

Speaking about the proposed expansion, Gurpreet said increasing the number of participating teams would certainly create more opportunities for developing football nations, but India must first strengthen its performances on the continental stage.

Focus should remain on Asian rankings

While welcoming the discussion around a larger World Cup, Gurpreet emphasized that qualification cannot depend solely on an expanded tournament.

According to the Indian skipper, climbing the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rankings should be the country’s primary objective.

He believes consistently competing against stronger Asian nations and improving results in international competitions will naturally bring India closer to realizing its World Cup dream.

FIFA considering 64-team World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that discussions regarding a 64-team FIFA World Cup for the 2030 edition will take place after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The governing body has not yet approved the proposal, but it is expected to be debated in the coming years.

If implemented, the expansion would mark another major change following the increase from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

India could benefit from additional Asian slots

One of the biggest advantages of a 64-team tournament would be an increase in qualification places for each continent.

Reports suggest Asia could receive 11 or 12 direct qualification spots, compared to the current allocation, significantly improving the chances of emerging football nations such as India.

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However, Gurpreet believes the additional slots should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a guarantee.

He stressed that India must continue improving its infrastructure, player development and performances to become a consistent force in Asian football.

Long-term vision for Indian football

India has never qualified for the senior FIFA World Cup, making the tournament one of the country’s biggest sporting ambitions.

Gurpreet’s comments reflect a realistic approach, acknowledging that while structural changes in world football may create new opportunities, sustainable progress will only come through steady improvement on the field.

With discussions over the 64-team World Cup expected after the 2026 tournament, Indian football will closely watch FIFA’s decision while continuing its push to compete with the continent’s leading nations.