The 64-team World Cup is on the table, as FIFA considers an unexpected proposal from South American soccer to expand the men’s tournament in 2030. This ambitious plan would double the number of teams compared to the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.
“A proposal to analyze a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA Council member during the ‘miscellaneous’ agenda item at the end of the FIFA Council meeting,” the governing body of soccer stated on Thursday, following the conclusion of the meeting.
FIFA emphasized its responsibility to evaluate any proposal from its Council members, highlighting the importance of open dialogue in the sport’s governance.
Uruguay, the inaugural World Cup host and champion in 1930, is slated to host one match during this centennial tournament. This historic connection adds a layer of significance to the event.
Next year, the first 48-team tournament will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, setting the stage for a new era in World Cup history.
The 2030 World Cup is already poised to be the most expansive edition, with six host nations spanning three different continents, showcasing the global nature of soccer.
In 2023, the South American soccer body CONMEBOL agreed to a FIFA-supported plan that allows Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to each host one game before the tournament transitions to its primary co-hosts: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
FIFA granted automatic entry to all six host nations, a strategic move that was viewed as a significant victory for CONMEBOL’s Paraguayan president, Alejandro Dominguez, within the realm of soccer politics.
An expansion to 64 teams would likely secure a spot for all ten CONMEBOL member nations, with Venezuela being the only country that has yet to qualify for a World Cup.
If FIFA approves this expansion, the tournament could feature 128 matches, effectively doubling the number of games from the 64-match, 32-team format utilized from 1998 to 2022.
Several sponsors, including Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Wanda, secured rights to the 2030 World Cup over a decade ago, anticipating a 64-game event, which adds a layer of financial complexity to the proposal.
FIFA has not provided a specific timeline for reviewing this proposal or making a decision. The next FIFA Congress, which will gather representatives from 211 member federations, is set to take place in Asuncion, Paraguay, in May.
\
FOLLOW
Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience
FIFA Men’s World Cup
