CONMEBOL has made an official proposal to expand the men's 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, enabling broader participation in this unique centennial celebration.

According to Channel News Asia, the tournament is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with initial matches held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez stated, "We are convinced that the centennial celebration will be unique because 100 years are celebrated once."

The proposed expansion was originally discussed during a FIFA Council meeting and aims to allow more nations to partake in the tournament's festivities. Dominguez emphasized that no one should be left out of the experience, stating the plan would mark the occasion with matches across three continents simultaneously.

The 2030 World Cup is already slated to welcome 48 teams, with the forthcoming 2026 tournament marking its first expansion from 32. The anticipated shift to 64 teams would entail 128 matches, a significant increase from the traditional format.

However, the proposal has faced resistance, particularly from the Asian Football Confederation’s president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who warned of potential "chaos" and consistency issues if numbers were allowed to fluctuate. Addressing this at the South China Morning Post, Salman stated, "If the issue remains open to change... it would become chaos."

Meanwhile, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin also criticized the proposed expansion as a "bad idea," highlighting concerns regarding the potential dilution of competition quality. Nonetheless, FIFA officials confirmed they would review the proposal before making a final decision regarding the format of the 2030 World Cup.

As discussions continue, the football community remains divided on this proposal, revealing the complexity of balancing inclusivity with competitive integrity in one of the world's most watched sporting events.