World Cup 2030 unlikely to increase to 64 teams as 'strange' idea faces strong opposition

The proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was put forward by the Uruguayan Football Federation (AUF) at the FIFA General Assembly in March. This proposal received full support from CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) at the organization's recent meeting. FIFA has accepted it and said it will analyze and consider applying it.

One of the important reasons given by AUF and CONMEBOL to propose increasing the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the World Cup since its first organization in 1930.

Japan is an Asian representative who regularly appears at the World Cup.

Photo: Reuters

"We believe that the 100th anniversary of the World Cup will be a unique event... And that is why we propose to hold this celebration for the first time with 64 teams, taking place on three continents at the same time. So that all countries have the opportunity to experience the World Cup, and so that no one on this planet is left behind at the celebration, which is our celebration, of world football", emphasized Alejandro Dominguez, President of CONMEBOL.

Also in his statement, Mr. Alejandro Dominguez explained that the proposal to increase the number of teams to 64 in the 2030 World Cup is a one-time event. The next World Cups will still be held with 48 teams, as in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada. The 2026 World Cup will be the first time it has increased to 48 teams, compared to 32 teams since 1998.

Why doesn't the 2030 World Cup increase to 132 teams?

However, the idea has been met with mixed reactions. First came from UEFA, where Aleksander Ceferin (president of the body) criticized: "In my opinion, it is not a good idea for the World Cup. So I do not support it. I do not know where it comes from, but it is strange that we did not know anything until the proposal at the FIFA council".

After UEFA, recently at the 35th AFC Congress held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the AFC President also reacted strongly to the proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. Accordingly, Mr. Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said sarcastically: "Why not 132 teams?", according to the Argentine newspaper TyC Sports. Argentina and CONMEBOL member countries such as Paraguay and Uruguay all support the proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. However, Mr. Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said: "Increasing 64 teams will create chaos for the World Cup. We completely oppose this proposal. The number of teams participating in the 2030 World Cup has been set at 48 teams as in the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, there is nothing more to discuss. If we ask for 64 teams, why not 132 teams? How far will we go?".

AFC and UEFA have both rejected the above idea, so FIFA has little basis to increase the number of teams at the 2030 World Cup. Therefore, teams in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam or Thailand will have to have a revolution in training, building, and developing the quality of the team... if they hope to find a ticket to the World Cup.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/world-cup-2030-kho-tang-len-64-doi-khi-y-tuong-la-bi-phan-doi-gay-gat-185250415200442041.htm