FIFA Considers 64-Team World Cup Proposal as CONMEBOL Pushes for Bigger 2030 Tournament

The FIFA World Cup could undergo another major expansion after South American football governing body CONMEBOL submitted a proposal to increase the number of participating teams at the 2030 tournament from 48 to 64.

According to reports, the proposal is aimed at making the centenary edition of football’s biggest competition more inclusive by allowing more nations from around the world to take part in the historic event.

The idea comes ahead of the introduction of the 48-team format at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be the first edition to feature an expanded field.

The 2030 tournament will have a unique setup, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco serving as the main hosts, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will stage opening matches as part of celebrations marking 100 years since the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930.

Speaking at the CONMEBOL Congress, president Alejandro Domínguez said expanding the tournament would allow more countries to experience the global football event.

“Every country should have the opportunity to live the World Cup experience and ensure nobody is left out of the celebration,” Domínguez said.

The proposal was initially raised during a FIFA Council meeting in March by Uruguayan Football Federation president Ignacio Alonso. FIFA has since confirmed that it will review any proposal submitted by its council members.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended the CONMEBOL Congress, described the 2030 World Cup as a special milestone in football history and reiterated that more nations should have the opportunity to dream of competing on the biggest stage.

FIFA approved the move from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, with the new format set to debut at the 2026 tournament. If the latest proposal is approved, the 2030 World Cup would feature 64 teams and a record 128 matches.

However, the idea has already received opposition, particularly from UEFA. President Aleksander Čeferin questioned the need for another expansion, describing the proposal as a bad idea.

The 2030 World Cup is already set to become the first edition hosted across three continents, with the opening celebrations honouring the history of the competition while the main tournament takes place in Europe and Africa.

Further discussions on the 64-team proposal are expected during FIFA’s upcoming Congress in Paraguay, where football’s governing bodies will debate the future structure of the tournament.