South Americans back Infantino’s 64‑team World Cup plan

South American football leaders are urging FIFA president Gianni Infantino to enlarge the World Cup to 64 nations for the 2030 edition, a move they argue will celebrate the tournament’s centenary and broaden global participation. The proposal follows the recent debut of the 48‑team format, which has already sparked debate across the sport.

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The South American football confederation CONMEBOL is pressing for a 64‑team World Cup in 2030, arguing that a larger field will create more opportunities and stimulate football development worldwide. CONMEBOL chairman Alejandro Dominguez reiterated his ambition this week, describing the centenary edition as a chance to make the tournament a truly global celebration.

Dominguez said, “We are working to organise the 2030 World Cup with 64 national teams as a tribute to the hundred‑year history of the trophy. The expansion to 48 teams has shown that broader participation creates more chances, fuels football growth and turns the World Cup into a genuine global festival.”

The 2030 tournament will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while the opening matches are slated for Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as a nod to the inaugural 1930 competition.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the proposal will be examined, noting that the 48‑team World Cup was a great success and that smaller football nations deserve more chances on the biggest stage.

An expansion to 64 teams would raise the total matches from 104 in the 2026 edition to 128, likely using sixteen groups of four with the top two advancing to a round of 16.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin criticised the idea, calling a 64‑team World Cup “not a good idea” and warning that both the tournament and European qualification could lose value.

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CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani also expressed doubts, while AFC president Sheikh Salman warned, “Where does it stop? Someone might soon ask for a World Cup with 132 nations. That would be complete chaos.”

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz added that the expansion to 48 teams already diluted the exclusivity of qualification and that further enlargement could weaken the tournament.

The World Cup has grown steadily over decades—from 16 participants in 1978 to 24, then 32, now 48, and possibly 64. In the coming months the football world will see whether it is ready for another historic expansion of the sport’s premier event.