South America’s Grand Plan for 64-Team World Cup Hits a Wall

South America’s grand plan for a 64-team centenary World Cup in 2030 has hit a formidable wall of opposition within FIFA. Despite Conmebol leaders making a formal pitch to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in New York, the global governing body has made it clear that such a dramatic expansion is not on its agenda due to fears it would devalue the tournament.
The ambitious proposal was fronted by officials from Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina, who will host the opening games of the 2030 event. Their vision was for a truly global celebration featuring nearly a third of FIFA’s members. For the 10-nation Conmebol, this would be a game-changer, with enough new qualification spots to potentially include every one of its teams. The delegation even claimed the capability to host the entire group stage.
However, the idea has been met with a cold reception within FIFA’s Zurich headquarters. Sources indicate that the plan is deeply unpopular among the members of the FIFA Council, who would have to approve the change. The consensus is that a 64-team format would lead to a significant drop in the quality of matches and could harm the World Cup’s prestigious brand and business model.
This resistance is not just behind closed doors. Influential figures like UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani have publicly denounced the proposal. Their strong opposition, as FIFA vice-presidents, creates a major political hurdle that the South American plan is unlikely to overcome.
As FIFA prepares for its first 48-team World Cup in 2026, the appetite for further expansion has clearly waned. The focus is on making the current format work, not on doubling down with an even more radical and potentially chaotic 64-team structure.