FIFA President Gianni Infantino hosted a delegation of South American leaders for formal talks about a 64-team World Cup, yet the ambitious proposal remains firmly off the table for the 2030 tournament. The meeting in New York highlighted a disconnect between Conmebol’s aspirations and the prevailing mood within the global football community, which fears over-expansion.
The South American contingent, which included top political and football figures from Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina, laid out their case for a dramatically larger centenary World Cup. Such a move would be a massive victory for their confederation, potentially allowing all 10 of its member nations to participate in the finals. They argued it would be a fittingly grand celebration of the tournament’s 100th anniversary.
However, the reality within FIFA is that the proposal lacks critical support. An insider revealed that the plan would be soundly defeated in a FIFA Council vote. The council, composed of representatives from across the globe, is largely against the idea, fearing it would dilute the tournament’s prestige with a series of uncompetitive matches and create a logistical nightmare.
This sentiment has been publicly articulated by powerful voices in the game. Both UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani, who serve as FIFA vice-presidents, have criticized the proposal. Their opposition underscores the significant political hurdles the 64-team format would need to overcome to be approved.
The World Cup is already undergoing a major expansion to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. For now, it seems this is as far as the governing body is willing to go. The 2030 tournament will proceed with its unique six-country format, but not with an expanded roster of 64 teams.