At the 80th edition of the Conmebol Ordinary Congress, Alejandro Dominguez suggested expanding the tournament to include 64 teams. His rationale? The centennial celebration of the FIFA World Cup, marking 100 years since the inaugural edition held in Uruguay in 1930, which saw the host nation crowned as champions.
“We’re convinced that the centennial celebration will be one-of-a-kind because you only turn 100 once,” Dominguez explained. “That’s why we’re proposing a unique format for this anniversary—a 64-team tournament played across three continents simultaneously”.
“This would allow every country to share in the World Cup experience and ensure that no one on this planet feels left out of a celebration that, while global, is deeply rooted in our history,” he continued.
If FIFA approves the proposal, South America could see an expanded role as a host for the tournament. Currently, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay are set to host the opening matches before the competition shifts to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for the remainder of the event.
Alejandro Dominguez President of CONMEBOL speaks during the announcement of the joint candidacy between Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay to host the FIFA 2030 World Cup. (Sandro Pereyra/Getty Images)
A unique format for a historic tournament
Under the proposed structure, as reported by journalist Gastón Edul, the tournament would feature 16 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group would advance to the knockout stage, starting from a round of 32—a significant departure from traditional formats.
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This would also mark the first World Cup played across multiple continents. While the 2002 tournament set a precedent with co-hosting duties shared by South Korea and Japan, and the 2026 World Cup will span the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, the 2030 edition promises to break new ground.
The number of participating nations is already set to increase for the 2026 World Cup, rising from 32 to 48 teams. This change will extend the champion’s journey to eight matches instead of the traditional seven, a format that could carry over if Conmebol‘s proposal for 2030 gains approval.
Uruguay’s vision for a memorable 2030
Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF), also confirmed that the idea of a 64-team World Cup originated in Uruguay. Speaking to El Espectador, Alonso emphasized that the centennial event deserves a unique approach.
“All we did was put this on the table as a way to celebrate 100 years of the World Cup,” Alonso said. “This anniversary isn’t like 2026 or 2034—it’s special. We need to deliver something extraordinary, something that leaves a lasting legacy”.
Alonso added: “The global soccer community will embrace this as our celebration. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the past 100 years and create something unprecedented. This proposal could reshape not just the tournament but also how World Cup qualifiers are conducted, offering hope to nations that previously viewed qualification as an unattainable dream”.
