FIFA and CONMEBOL Discuss World Cup Expansion
In a significant development for the future of international football, FIFA President Gianni Infantino convened with Alejandro Domínguez, the President of CONMEBOL, along with other prominent leaders from South American soccer federations, on Tuesday in New York City. The focal point of their discussions was a proposal to enlarge the men’s World Cup in 2030 to include 64 teams, a concept that was initially introduced in March by a Uruguayan delegate during a virtual meeting of FIFA’s ruling council.
Key Discussions and Optimism
Notably, this meeting was the first occasion where CONMEBOL’s chief representatives directly articulated the expansion proposal to Infantino. Attendees included the federation heads of Argentina and Uruguay, as well as Presidents Santiago Peña of Paraguay and Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay. After the discussions, Domínguez expressed optimism about the historic potential of the upcoming World Cup on social media.
“We are calling for unity, creativity, and dreaming big,”
he stated, emphasizing the desire for the tournament to reflect a global celebration of football in its centennial year.
Historic 2030 World Cup Plans
The 2030 edition promises to be extraordinary, with an ambitious plan that includes multiple host nations across three continents. Originally, Uruguay hosted the first World Cup in 1930, and it is set to have one match in this upcoming event. Other co-hosts for the tournament include Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Participation
Argentinian federation president Claudio Chiqui Tapia shared his upbeat sentiments about the meeting, stating that it marked an essential step toward making their dreams of an impactful tournament a reality. He highlighted the importance of this collaborative effort among the nations.
The move to potentially expand to 64 teams could ensure participation from all ten nations within CONMEBOL, with the exception of Venezuela, which has never qualified for a World Cup. While Argentinian President Javier Milei was absent from the meeting, the presidents from the other South American nations were present alongside FIFA’s Secretary General Mattias Grafström at the gathering held at Trump Tower, the FIFA headquarters.
Opportunities and Criticism
Domínguez also remarked on the significant opportunity represented by the 2030 World Cup, declaring that this cannot merely be another World Cup but a chance to showcase matches in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay during this once-in-a-lifetime event. If the expansion is sanctioned by FIFA, the tournament could see a dramatic increase in the number of matches from 64 to 128, although such a substantial alteration has faced criticism.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has previously described the idea of a 64-team tournament as “a bad idea,”
arguing that it risks diluting the overall quality of play. Conversely, supporters of the expansion assert it could broaden inclusivity and excitement within the sport, inviting greater international participation.
