THE WORLD CUP could expand to 64 teams in a radical transformation, it has been revealed.
An official proposal from Conmebol president, Alejandro Dominguez, for the 2030 tournament was submitted on Thursday.
A 64-team tournament would mean more than a quarter of Fifa‘s 211 member nations would qualify.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar played host to 32 teams, while the 2026 tournament – hosted between USA, Canada and Mexico – will have 48 teams.
The 2026 expansion is already facing criticism for diluting the quality of the nations involved.
A total of 12 third-place teams will be able to make the knockout round, while under a 32-team format the top two from the group reach the knockout stage.
Football‘s governing body, Fifa, is aware of the 64-team proposal.
President Gianni Infantino, who participated in the Conmebol Congress, noted the “exceptional milestone” of the centennial tournament.
The idea was first flouted last March by a delegate from the Uruguay Football Association during an online meeting of the ruling council of world soccer’s governing body.
However, Dominguez has now put the idea into motion for the 100-year anniversary of the tournament.
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Speaking at Conmebol’s 80th Ordinary Congress, he said: “This will allow all countries to have the opportunity to live the world experience and so nobody on the planet is left out of the party.
“We are convinced that the centennial celebration will be unique because 100 years are celebrated only once.”
The 2030 World Cup will already make history to be the most widespread edition of the tournament with six host nations spread across three continents.
Uruguay, the hosts of the first-ever World Cup in 1930, will host one game, while Paragauy, Argentina, Spain, Portugal and Morocco co-host.
The expansion would likely most heavily benefit Conmebol, with all 10 member countries able to make the tournament proper – and therefore allowing Venezuela, who have never qualified, to play.
Dominguez added: “That is why we are proposing, for the first time, to hold this anniversary with 64 teams, on three continents simultaneously.”
A Fifa statement on the idea on Friday said it had a “duty to analyse any proposal from one of its Council members”.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held on May 15 in Paraguay, when the proposal could be discussed.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has already positioned himself against the idea, calling it a “bad idea” earlier this month.
He said at a news conference: “This proposal was maybe even more surprising for me than you. I think it is a bad idea.”
With 48 teams, the 2026 tournament will have 104 matches.
But an increased 64-nation format would see 128 matches played – a dramatic increase from the 64-games seen at World Cups between 1998 and 2022.
Earlier this month it was announced the UK is set to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup after the Home Nations bid was confirmed as the “sole bidder”.
