CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has confirmed the biggest change in World Cup football since the expansion of the 2026 World Cup.
With rumours circulating that FIFA are looking at expanding the tournament once again, Dominguez has confirmed that this may be the case at the 2030 tournament.
In September, talks were held between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom regarding a further expansion to 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup hosted by six nations.
The talks were held as a result of a delegation of South American nations which included heads of state from Paraguay and Uruguay as well as senior football executives from the South American confederation CONMEBOL and the head of the Argentine FA proposed the expansion.
Uruguayan FA president Ignacio Alonso was the first to propose this idea in March 2025 whilst attending a FIFA council meeting and such has resulted in the increased possibility of this taking place in just 4 years from now.
Why Has A 64-Team World Cup Been Proposed?
Unlike many rumours being leaks, the CONMEBOL president took to X to say: "The next one is played at home! In 2030, the World Cup comes to Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, a great opportunity for soccer, to celebrate the Centenary of the World Cup with a competition featuring 64 teams".
However, hours later he went onto say: "We are working to ensure that the 2030 World Cup is held with 64 national teams in homage to the Centenary of the World Cup". It seems that he has since backed out of confirming the 2030 World Cup will host 64 nations across the six host countries and later softened his position by saying officials were 'working' towards a 64-team tournament.
The 2030 World Cup will be the 100 year anniversary since the first World Cup which saw Uruguay lift the first trophy. To commemorate the inaugural 1930 World Cup, South America will join Africa and Europe in hosting the competition.
Read More: The Young Stars Who Could Define the FIFA World Cup 2030
Read More: RFEF President Rafael Louzan Backs Camp Nou or Bernabeu to Host 2030 World Cup Final
2030 FIFA World Cup Host Cities And Stadiums
In South America, the cities and stadiums hosting the games will be:
- Buenos Aires – Estadio Monumental
- Asuncion – Estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb
- Montevideo – Estadio Centenario
In Europe, Spain and Portugal will host with 11 cities hosting the World Cup:
- Lisbon – Estádio da Luz
- Lisbon – Estádio José Alvalade
- Porto – Estádio do Dragão
- Barcelona – Camp Nou
- Barcelona – RCDE Stadium
- Bilbao – San Mamés Stadium
- Las Palmas – Estadio Gran Canaria
- Madrid – Santiago Bernabéu
- Madrid – Metropolitano Stadium
- San Sebastián – Anoeta Stadium
- Seville – Estadio de La Cartuja
- Valencia – Nou Mestalla
- Vigo – Balaídos Stadium
- Zaragoza – Nueva Romareda
The World Cup will return to Africa for the 2nd time ever after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, this time in the Moroccan host cities are:
- Agadir – Adrar Stadium
- Casablanca – Hassan II Stadium
- Fez – Fez Stadium
- Marrakesh – Marrakesh Stadium
- Rabat – Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
- Tangier – Ibn Batouta Stadium
