Alejandro Dominguez, President of South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL, has called for a 64-team World Cup in 2030. This extravagant scheme has caused a firestorm of controversy among soccer federations. Their proposal, unsurprisingly, focuses on bringing the tournament to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This proposal provides a more exciting and fairer alternative to the 48-team format that is already locked in for the next World Cup in 2026, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Among these smart plans, Dominguez’s proposal is a beacon. It aims to preserve the spirit of the inaugural, original World Cup—held in Uruguay in 1930. This ambitious plan would need the support of several confederations and a big overhaul of the existing tournament format. Despite this positivity, it has already come under fire from gatekeepers of world football governance.
Key Opposition from Football Leaders
Victor Montagliani, President of CONCACAF, previously came out against the proposed expansion to 64 teams. Beyond the details, he underscored just how important the current format is. He too challenged the assumption that a radical shift would actually deliver the promised advantages.
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.” – Victor Montagliani
Montagliani made clear his reservations on growing the tournament. He cautioned that it would undercut its credibility and damage the entire football ecosystem.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players.” – Victor Montagliani
European football leaders have added their voices to Montagliani’s call on FIFA to reconsider the expansion. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has weighed in against this plan, arguing that protecting quality must come first, before just expanding for the sake of it.
Perspectives from Other Confederations
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), whose President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, has said the same. He worries adding more schools makes it more difficult to avoid pandemonium breaking loose inside the fabric of the tournament.
The public has understandably been alarmed at this proposal. They worry that expanding the event further would damage the competitive balance and make the event substantially more logistically challenging.
Just a few dissenting voices have been enough. Most think that we should focus on successfully pulling off the huge 2026 World Cup before making any moves towards further expansions. The 2026 tournament will take that dramatic change in format even further, going from 32 teams to 48 teams.
Looking Ahead to 2030
As talks persist about the viability of CONMEBOL’s 64-team World Cup plan, the obstacles are obvious. The eventual outcome will depend on negotiations among confederations and a consensus on how best to prioritize both expansion and quality within international football.
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