The controversy over the expansion of 64 countries in the 2030 World Cup is escalating...Responding to UEFA's opposition in favor of the South American Federation

Apr 11, 2025

The controversy over the expansion of 64 countries in the 2030 World Cup is escalating...Responding to UEFA's opposition in favor of the South American Federation
Aleandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Federation.



The controversy over the expansion of 64 countries in the 2030 World Cup is escalating...Responding to UEFA's opposition in favor of the South American Federation
epa11992956 (L-R) The president of the Uruguayan Football Association, Ignacio Alonso, the president of the Colombian soccer federation, Ramon Jesurun, the president of Conmebol, Alejandro Dominguez, the president of the International Federation of Professional Football Players (Fifpro), Sergio Marchi, former soccer player, Ronaldo, the president of the National Professional Football Association of Chile, Pablo Milad and the president of the Paraguayan Football Association, Robert Harrison attend the conference, Sergio Marchi, former soccer player Ronaldo, the president of Chile's National Professional Soccer Association, Pablo Milad, and the president of the Paraguayan Soccer Association, Robert Harrison, attend a press conference following a meeting between representatives of various South American governments the CONMEBOL's ten member associations to discuss racism, discrimination and violence in soccer, at the Conmebol convention center in Luque, Paraguay, 27 March 2025. CONMEBOL announced a new task force to work on combating racism, discretion, and violations in society. EPA/Juan Pablo Pino
Controversy is intensifying over how to significantly increase the number of hosts of the soccer World Cup by 64.

Amid the UEFA's head-on opposition to FIFA's review policy, the South American soccer community participated in the war defending the 'expansion plan'.

According to foreign media on the 11th (Korea time), CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez officially called on FIFA to expand the number of teams participating in the 2030 World Cup to 64.




As the 2030 World Cup marks the 100th anniversary of the launch of the FIFA World Cup, President Dominguez argues that increasing the number of participating countries can further celebrate.

The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by three countries: Spain and Portugal in Europe, and Morocco in Africa. The first World Cup was held in Uruguay, South America. FIFA originally planned to hold the opening three games of the 2030 World Cup in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to commemorate its 100th anniversary.

The controversy over the expansion of 64 countries in the 2030 World Cup is escalating...Responding to UEFA's opposition in favor of the South American Federation
Alexander Cheperin, president of UEFA. Yonhap News
Currently, the number of World Cup participants has expanded from 32 to 48 since the 2026 World Cup. Dominguez said, `We want to increase the number of games to 64 countries as a one-time event for the 2030 tournament only,' adding that expanding to 64 countries could further increase the number of games in South America, the birthplace of the World Cup. The purpose of the 2030 tournament is to allow all countries to experience the World Cup and anyone in the world to feel the festive atmosphere."




The '64-team proposal' was first proposed by Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguay Football Association (AUF), at the FIFA Council held in March. In response, FIFA expressed a positive review position. Then, UEFA President Aleksander Cheperin told a press conference after the UEFA annual meeting on the 3rd that `it is absurd. Bad idea", he said, expressing his opposition to the public.

Then, President Dominguez, the head of South American football, is expanding the controversy of "60 countries", defending Uruguay's position by firing support.

Reporter Choi Man-sik cms@sportschosun.com






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.