2030 World Cup: CONMEBOL proposes expanded 64-team tournament

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez has officially proposed expanding the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 32 to 64 teams to mark the tournament’s 100th anniversary.

Speaking at the 80th CONMEBOL Congress, Domínguez described the centennial as a "once-in-a-lifetime" event deserving global inclusion.

The 2030 World Cup is already set to be unprecedented, with six host countries—Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco—spanning three continents.

The proposed expansion could ensure automatic qualification for all 10 South American nations, including Venezuela, which has never played at a World Cup.

Domínguez emphasized that the move would give every country a chance to be part of the celebration.

However, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin criticized the idea, calling it “a bad idea,” amid concerns over diluted competition and a bloated qualifying structure. FIFA has yet to decide on the proposal, which could double the tournament’s matches to 128.