CONMEBOL president hints at 64-team FIFA World Cup in 2030

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez has suggested that the 2030 FIFA World Cup could feature 64 national teams, although FIFA has not yet made an official decision.

In a post on X, Dominguez said the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with opening matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, would celebrate the tournament's 100th anniversary "with a competition involving 64 teams."

However, his statement does not constitute official confirmation, as FIFA has said the proposal to expand the tournament remains under review, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Just one day earlier, Dominguez described the idea of a 64-team World Cup as a "dream" to mark the centenary of the competition.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said the issue will be considered after the conclusion of the World Cup, emphasizing that expanding the tournament is intended to give more countries the opportunity to dream of competing in football's biggest event.

"When you organize a World Cup, you have to think about the whole world, not just Europe and South America. Every nation should have the opportunity to dream of taking part. If smaller countries are not given that opportunity, they lose motivation to develop," Infantino said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the first edition to feature 48 teams, while the tournament had included 32 national teams through the 2022 edition.

The proposal to expand the competition to 64 teams has faced opposition from several football leaders. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called it "a bad idea," while Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned that such a change could create "chaos" in international football.

Photo: FIFA