CONMEBOL’s 64-Team World Cup Proposal for 2030 Faces Widespread Opposition

Julian Finney Getty Imege

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez’s recent proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams has drawn increasing criticism from across the football world.

Victor Montagliani, President of CONCACAF, also voiced his opposition, stating, “We haven’t even played the 48-team World Cup yet, and now we’re talking about 64. It’s not appropriate. This could negatively impact the entire football ecosystem — from national teams to clubs, leagues, and players.”

The 2026 World Cup has already been expanded to 48 teams and will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada — a decision unanimously approved by FIFA in 2017. The 2030 edition will be staged across three continents, with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as the main hosts, while Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will host the opening matches to commemorate the tournament’s centenary.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin previously called the idea “a bad one,” while AFC President Sheikh Salman expressed concerns it would cause “chaos.”

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said the organization will carefully study the proposal and consult with all stakeholders. The matter is expected to be a key topic at FIFA’s 75th Congress, scheduled for May 15 in Paraguay.