Conmebol is pushing FIFA: discussions of expanding 64 teams in the 2030 World Cup!

Significant developments occurred in New York, where FIFA President, Gianni Infantinomet with Conmebol President Alejandro Domingues and football federations from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, with the aim of discussing the discussion of Possible extension of the 2030 World Cup to 64 groups.

The proposal for enlargement was initially submitted in March by a Uruguayan representative at a FIFA Council meeting, but that was the first time presented directly to Infantino by the leaders of Conmebol. “We believe in a historic World Cup in 2030“, Domingues said after the meeting, inviting unity and creativity for the event that will signal the 100 years of the institution.

The 2026 World Cup is already scheduled to host 48 teams, while the 2030 is expected to be the most multidimensional in history, with Six countries-owners on three continents: Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Uruguay, as the first organizing country In 1930, it will host a race.

Argentinean Football Federation President Claudio Tapia said the meeting was “honor” and expressed hope that the Dream of South America for greater representation will become a reality. Extension to 64 groups could ensure participation of all 10 members of Conmebolincluding Venezuela, which has never qualified in the final phase.

The meeting was also attended by Paraguaya presidents Santiago Penia and Uruguayan Yamantou Ossi, while Argentinean President Javier Miley was absent. Also present was FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafstrom.

If the sentence is approved, the tournament will include 128 matches -Teps from the traditional format of the 64 matches in force from 1998 to 2022. However, the proposal has been criticized, with UEFA President, Alexander Cheferinto characterize her ‘bad idea“, While others argue that it will reduce the quality of the game and degrade the qualifying process.