Push for a 64-Team FIFA World Cup in 2030

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez announced on X that the 2030 men’s World Cup should feature 64 national teams. He called the expansion a “great opportunity for football” to mark the tournament’s centenary. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the governing body will examine the proposal after the 2026 edition, but no official decision has been issued.

64-team World Cup

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, expanded from 32 to 48 teams, delivering 104 matches. The centenary tournament will be co-hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay each staging an opening match.

Reuters

• July 20 – CONMEBOL publicly pushes for a 64-team format for 2030.

Reuters

• July 12 – Infantino confirms FIFA will discuss expanding the World Cup after the 2026 tournament.

ESPN

• June 10 – Infantino emphasizes the need to give smaller nations a chance to compete.

BBC News

• 2022 World Cup: 32 teams, 64 matches.

USA Today

• 2026 World Cup: 48 teams, 104 matches.

USA Today

• Proposed 2030 format: 64 teams would require 128 matches, doubling the games played under the 32-team system.

USA Today

Domínguez argued that “every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup” and linked the expansion to the sport’s growth. He said the issue will be examined by FIFA committees after 2026. FIFA has not issued a formal confirmation, leaving the proposal in a discussion phase.

ESPN

LaLiga president Javier Tebas opposes the expansion, calling it “no sense” and warning that more teams would “destroy the football industry.” He stresses that domestic leagues, which generate “tens of thousands of jobs,” need protection.

ESPN

• Supportive view: Domínguez and Infantino see the expansion as a way to broaden participation and stimulate development in emerging football nations.

Mirror - UK

• Oppositional view: Tebas, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa have labeled the proposal a “bad idea” or a source of “chaos,” citing concerns over competitive balance and qualification.

WalesOnline

• Unresolved status: No official FIFA decision has been announced; the proposal remains under committee review, with details on format, qualification allocation and logistics still pending.

New York Times

• “In 2030, the World Cup comes to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, a great opportunity for football, to celebrate the World Cup Centenary with a 64-team tournament.” — Alejandro Domínguez

ESPN

• “Javier Tebas, the president of Spain’s LaLiga, said Tuesday in an interview, “Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense.” — Javier Tebas

These statements capture the principal arguments for and against expanding the World Cup to 64 teams as the sport looks toward its centenary edition.

ESPN