Concacaf Opposes 64-Team Expansion for 2030 World Cup
In a significant development, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has voiced strong opposition to a proposal aimed at expanding the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams. The proposal, put forth by the South American governing body Conmebol, has garnered criticism from several football leaders, including Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The upcoming World Cup is set to be hosted across six nations and three continents, with matches taking place in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, following the opening games in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This tournament marks a significant milestone, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the World Cup.
Montagliani expressed his concerns regarding the proposed expansion, stating, “I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem.” He emphasized that the focus should remain on the newly expanded 48-team format that will debut in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. “We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table,” Montagliani added.
If the proposal were accepted, the 2030 World Cup would consist of 128 matches, doubling the number played in the 64-game format used from 1998 to 2022. The FIFA congress, scheduled for May 15 in Paraguay, is expected to address Conmebol’s proposal.
Critics have echoed Montagliani’s sentiments. In March, Ceferin labeled the proposal a “bad idea,” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa warned that it could lead to “chaos.” Salman highlighted the potential for further expansions, stating, “If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams, but someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
