Alejandro Domínguez, president of South American football's governing body CONMEBOL, officially proposed on Thursday that the 2030 FIFA World Cup be expanded from 32 to 64 teams — a move that would double the number of matches and further transform the tournament into a truly global spectacle.
Speaking at the 80th Ordinary Congress of CONMEBOL, Domínguez framed the proposal as a fitting tribute to the tournament’s centennial edition, highlighting the unique nature of the 100-year anniversary.
“We are convinced that the centennial celebration will be unique because 100 years are celebrated only once,” said Domínguez. “That is why we are proposing, for the first time, to hold this anniversary with 64 teams, on three continents simultaneously.”
The idea was initially floated last year by a Uruguayan delegate during a virtual FIFA Council meeting, and FIFA is said to be aware of the ongoing discussions. However, no formal decision has been made.
A Tournament Like No Other
The 2030 World Cup is already slated to be the most logistically complex edition yet, with six host nations — Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay in South America; Spain and Portugal in Europe; and Morocco in Africa — sharing hosting duties across three continents. Uruguay, which hosted the inaugural tournament in 1930, is expected to stage the opening match as a symbolic tribute to its historical role.
An expansion to 64 teams would not only double the number of participating nations compared to the original format but also require 128 matches to be played — up from 64 in previous editions from 1998 to 2022.
Critics, including UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, have pushed back against the idea. Čeferin has labeled a 64-team World Cup "a bad idea," citing concerns about diluted competition quality, logistical challenges, and a potential devaluation of the qualification process.
Despite this, Domínguez defended the expansion as a way to increase inclusion and global participation.
“This will allow all countries to have the opportunity to live the world experience and so nobody on the planet is left out of the party,” he added.
Impact for South America
A 64-team format would all but guarantee qualification for all 10 CONMEBOL member nations — a significant incentive, especially for Venezuela, which remains the only South American country never to have qualified for a World Cup.
The final decision on the format of the 2030 World Cup will rest with FIFA, which is currently preparing to stage a 48-team tournament for the first time in 2026, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
If approved, the centennial edition would mark a bold leap in both scale and ambition for the world’s most-watched sporting event.