CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez has shocked the sport by announcing the 2030 World Cup will be expanded to include 64 teams, rising from 48 in the 2026 edition.
While traditionally the World Cup had around 16 sides, expanding to 24 in 1982, then to 32 from 1998 onwards, the 2026 tournament was the biggest in history with 48 teams.
Biggest ever World Cup for 2030
However, CONMEBOL chief Dominguez claimed via social media this evening that in order to celebrate the Centenary of the competition, the World Cup would involve 64 sides in 2030.
The tournament is already going to be a rather strange one, as it will have single matches hosted by Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, but ultimately be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
Inevitably, if the competition is expanded to include 64 sides, that will affect the qualification process.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already suggested the idea and said they will “be examining this after” the event in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
“When organising a World Cup, it’s important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.”
¡El próximo se juega en casa! En 2030 se viene el Mundial de Uruguay, Argentina y Paraguay, Una gran oportunidad para el fútbol, para celebrar el Centenario de la Copa del Mundo con una competencia con 64 equipos pic.twitter.com/ocIjHYCN5f — Alejandro Domínguez (@agdws) July 20, 2026
Source: Football Italia
