Momentum with World Cup expansion to 64 teams from 2030

From a European perspective, Uefa’s quota could rise from 16 nations to 19 in a 64-team World Cup

Fifa president Gianni Infantino appears receptive to the concept of a 64-team World Cup. Pic: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The 2030 World Cup will be expanded to 64 nations, according to one of the tournament hosts from South America.

President of the CONMEBOL confederation, Alejandro Domínguez, looked ahead to the next tournament on Monday by declaring the expansion, despite no formal confirmation from Fifa.

Although the next tournament will mainly be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, conditional to the bidding award was the opening three matches being staged in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

Paraguayan official Domínguez posted on social media: "The next one is played at home! The 2030 World Cup is coming to Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. A great opportunity for football and to celebrate the centenary of the World Cup with a 64-team competition.” 

If ratified by Fifa’s 37-person council, it would represent a second jump in participants.

The latest version, won by Spain on Sunday, was the first featuring 48 nations, an increase from the 32-country format in place since 1998.

Controversial Fifa president Gianni Infantino appears receptive to the concept. "Everyone must be able to participate in the World Cup, not just Europe or Latin America,” he explained in an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin.

“This is certainly a topic that will be examined and discussed within the competent committees after this World Cup,"

From a European perspective, if similar criteria applied from the 2026 enlargement, Uefa’s quota would rise from 16 nations to 19.

The rationale behind the move is to schedule 16 groups of four teams, from which the top two advance to the knockout stage of 32. No longer would third place finishers be in contention.

While this will naturally improve qualification prospects for nations such as Ireland, criticisms of quality dilution will only heighten.

For instance, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Panama, Tunisia and Uzbekistan all finished bottom of their groups with zero points.

A mere two of nine Asian countries emerged from the group stage, along with only three of CONACAF’s six.

Despite a litany of controversies during his reign, Infantino is expected to be anointed with a fourth term at helm during next the next Fifa congress in March.