Expansion of the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams? Not only Asia and Africa, but also North and Central America have joined the opposition

The proposal to expand the number of countries (regions) participating in the 2030 tournament finals, the 100th anniversary of the FIFA World Cup, to 64, has been opposed not only by Europe and Asia, but also by Central and North America.

CONCACAF President Victor Montaliani

Victor Montaliani, president of the Confederation of North American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF), said in an interview with sports media ESPN on the 15th Beijing time: "I have not participated in the World Cup in which 48 countries participated. The proposal to expand to 64 countries is also not worth discussing. "I don't think the plan to expand to 64 countries is not only for the World Cup, but also for the wider football ecosystem such as national teams, teams, leagues, etc."

So far, in addition to South America, Europe, Asia, Central and North America and other continental football federations have unanimously opposed the "World Cup of 64 countries". Previously, the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim, said in an interview with AFP on the 12th: "It will only cause chaos." One might ask for an increase to 132 countries. ”

UEFA president Alexander Cepelin also said earlier this month that the requirement to pit 64 teams against each other in the World Cup finals was a "bad idea" and "really surprising, I don't think it's appropriate".

The "World Cup of 64 countries" is the idea of the South American side. Towards the end of the FIFA Council meeting, which took place online early last month, Uruguayan Football Federation president Ignacio Alonso sparked controversy by proposing to increase the number of participating countries to 64 in 2030 alone in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World Cup.

Although there are foreign media reports that the proposal seems to be supported by FIFA President Jenny Infantino to expand the scale of various international competitions, it has been unanimously opposed by the leaders of the leagues on all continents and seems to have lost its strength.

The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, and starting with the 1998 tournament in France, a total of 32 countries participated in the finals, but the 2026 World Cup, which was co-hosted by three countries from Central and North America (the United States, Canada, and Mexico), expanded to 48 countries.

The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal in Europe and Morocco in Africa. In addition, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tournament, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will also play one match each in 104 matches, and for the first time in the history of the World Cup, it will be held in six countries on three continents.