As the World Cup gears up to include 48 teams next summer, Fifa is contemplating an even larger expansion to 64 teams for its centennial celebration in 2030.
While opinions are divided, Fifa officials met with Uruguay and Paraguay’s leaders in New York, along with representatives from South America’s CONMEBOL and Argentina’s football association.
“We call for unity, creativity, and dreaming big,” stated CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez on social media. “When football is for all, the celebration becomes global.”
This 64-team proposal was first introduced by the Uruguayan Football Association in March, as reported by the New York Times. The inaugural World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930. A major concern is that a larger World Cup would involve 128 matches, adding pressure to the sport’s already packed schedule.
If approved, the 64-team format would revert back to 48 teams in 2034.
The first 48-team World Cup is set mainly in the US in 2026, with additional matches in Mexico and Canada. The US last hosted in 1994 with 24 teams.
Since expanding to 32 teams in 1998, the format has been consistent through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, won by Argentina.
The 2030 World Cup could feature the largest team count ever and will span three continents in six countries.
Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina will each host a game at the tournament’s start. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will host the majority of 2030 matches.
Fifa has yet to decide on the 64-team expansion for 2030.
“As the date nears, we emphasize this should not be just another event,” Dominguez stated. “We see it as a centennial chance.”
