FIFA discusses expanding 2030 World Cup to 64 teams: Report

The meeting took place to discuss the possibility of expanding World Cup competition to 64 countries.

The expansion of the men’s 2030 World Cup (WC) to 64 teams was discussed during a meeting between FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, and the presidents of three South American soccer federations on Tuesday in New York.

A representative from Uruguay initially presented CONMEBOL’s expansion plan in March at an online meeting of the world soccer governing body’s ruling council.

FIFA open to the idea of 64 teams in 2030 World Cup

To discuss the suggestion further, however, Dominguez met with Infantino on Tuesday along with the presidents of the federations of Uruguay and Argentina, as well as the presidents of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, and Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi. This was the first time the CONMEBOL leaders had directly presented the idea to Infantino.

Meanwhile, the 2026 World Cup has been expanded from a 32-team structure to 48 teams for the first time since the 1998 edition.

With six host countries dispersed over three continents, the 2030 WC is already expected to be the most expensive edition.

Uruguay, which hosted the first WC in 1930, will host one match. Co-hosts are Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Paraguay.

“We believe in a historic 2030 World Cup!” Domínguez said in a social media post after the meeting.

“Thank you, President Gianni Infantino, for welcoming us and sharing this journey toward the centennial of football’s greatest celebration. We want to call for unity, creativity, and believing big. Because when football is shared by everyone, the celebration is truly global.”

All ten CONMEBOL member nations would probably be guaranteed a spot in a larger tournament if the number of teams were increased to 64. The only team that has never made it to the World Cup are Venezuela.

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