CONMEBOL president ‘leaks’ major World Cup 2030 change in unexpected announcement

The World Cup is getting even bigger

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez has announced that plans are being put forward to expand the tournament to 64 teams as part of the competition's 100th anniversary celebrations. 

If approved, it would make the 2030 edition the largest World Cup ever staged.

The World Cup has steadily grown over the decades, beginning with 16 teams, increased to 24 in 1982, expanded to 32 in 1998, and featured 48 nations for the first time at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Domínguez said on social media that the centenary edition should be even bigger, proposing an expansion to 64 teams, which is an increase of 16 compared with the 2026 competition.

¡El próximo se juega en casa! En 2030 se viene el Mundial de Uruguay, Argentina y Paraguay, Una gran oportunidad para el fútbol, para celebrar el Centenario de la Copa del Mundo con una competencia con 64 equipos pic.twitter.com/ocIjHYCN5f

— Alejandro Domínguez (@agdws) July 20, 2026

The idea of further expansion has also received support from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who previously said the organisation would review the format after the 2026 World Cup.

Infantino argued that the tournament should give every nation a realistic chance of qualifying, stating: "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world."

The 2030 edition is already set to be unlike any previous tournament. 

Although Spain, Portugal and Morocco will act as the main hosts, the opening matches are also scheduled to take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.