CONMEBOL’s president has announced on social media that the 2030 World Cup will feature a “64-team tournament.”
In a post on X, Alejandro Domínguez expressed: “In 2030, the World Cup will return to Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, presenting a fantastic opportunity for football as we celebrate the Centenary with a 64-team tournament.”
While the 2030 World Cup will primarily be hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, three centenary matches are set to take place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
FIFA has yet to provide an official statement regarding this expansion. However, on July 12, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the association will review the expansion of the men’s World Cup to 64 teams following the 2026 tournament.
“This is definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the appropriate committees after this World Cup,” Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding to a 64-team format.
“In organizing a World Cup, it’s crucial to consider the entire world. It’s not just about Europe and South America, but it encompasses the whole world, effectively. Every nation should have the dream of participating in the World Cup.”
“The quality of teams is exceptionally high and steadily improving everywhere. If we don’t provide smaller nations the opportunity to participate in the World Cup, they may lose motivation to continue developing.”
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The 2026 World Cup, which was claimed by Spain, was the first tournament to include 48 teams.
If FIFA proceeds with a 64-team World Cup, it would consist of 128 matches, which is twice the number of matches played in the 32-team format that was utilized from 1998 to 2022. The current year’s tournament saw 104 matches.