Plans to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams are facing resistance from within Conmebol, despite the South American confederation standing to benefit from hosting additional matches.
According to reports, seven of Conmebol’s 10 member nations have expressed concern over the proposal, which is being championed by Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina — the three countries granted one commemorative match each for the World Cup’s centenary edition.
The trio met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino at Trump Tower in New York last month to discuss expanding the event. However, other South American federations fear the move could undermine their World Cup qualifying competition, a key revenue source driven by TV rights and sponsorships.
Expanding the tournament would likely guarantee eight or nine South American teams automatic qualification, weakening the competitiveness of qualifiers that currently feature all 10 nations in an 18-match round-robin format.
Critics within Conmebol also argue that the three proposing nations are seeking to benefit politically and financially by hosting a larger share of the tournament, including the entire group stage, according to insiders.
FIFA has said it remains open to member proposals but has yet to formally discuss the idea. The expansion plan has already drawn backlash globally, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin calling it a «bad idea» and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani warning it «doesn’t feel right.»
The World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in 2026, has expanded steadily since 1982. A 64-team tournament would double the number of matches to 128, further raising questions about logistics, scheduling, and quality of play.
