FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the World Cup will extend to 48 teams in 2026 but revealed that the original plan of having 16 groups of three nations is now back on the table for change.
Infantino hailed the 2022 World Cup as the best ever ahead of Sunday's final between France and Argentina.
Much of the excitement and entertainment at this year's tournament has come from the final day of the four-team groups, with dramatic exits for Belgium, Germany and Uruguay among others.
Such was the success of the four-team groups that pressure has been growing on FIFA to drop plans to move to three-team groups in 2026 which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While Infantino confirmed that plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams are continuing, he opened up the door to keeping the four-team format.
"We are really convinced of the growth, we have been approving a 48-team format with 16 groups of three where the top two would move into a knockout phase," he said.
"After this World Cup and the success of the groups of four and looking as well at some other competitions as well, like the Euros, they have been absolutely incredible in the sense that going to the last minute of the last match (to decide) who will go ahead (to the knockout stages).
"So we have to revisit and discuss if that goes ahead, that is something that will be on the agenda in the next meetings.
"It is something we need to discuss, whether 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four are better."
Infantino also revealed that the 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 teams, making the format similar to the World Cup.
He said the tournament, which currently involves seven teams, would be held every four years and would boost revenues for the global sports body further.
Currently the top teams of every continental competition as well as the hosts' national champion battle it out for the Club World Cup title.
He said FIFA expected revenues of $11 billion for the four-year period between 2022 and 2026 but that did not include the new club World Cup format in 2025.
"This 11 billion figure is without the club World Cup (in 2025). At the end of the four years we will make even more revenues," Infantino told a news conference.
When asked whether the revenue in the 2023-2026 cycle may go towards compensating workers, he said: "You should know that FIFA shares everything from its wealth.
"All the revenues of FIFA are being redistributed and reinvested, mainly in the game and also in some other activities. It's sufficient to look into our accounts and you will see that immediately.
"When it comes to the Legacy Fund, I've been speaking about that as well and we have published some information about that before this World Cup and more will follow after this World Cup."
FIFA said last month that the Legacy Fund will "set aside funding that will be dedicated to establishing a labour excellence hub in partnership with the International Labour Organisation".
Infantino also said that the 2022 Club World Cup, traditionally held in December but delayed this year due to the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, will be hosted by Morocco between 1-11 February 2023.
Follow the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
