South America’s World Cup Vision Clashes with FIFA’s Reality

A bold vision for the 2030 World Cup, presented by South American football leaders, has clashed with the pragmatic reality of FIFA’s governance. The proposal for a 64-team tournament has been effectively shelved, as the global body fears such an expansion would compromise the event’s quality and prestige, despite a formal pitch to its president, Gianni Infantino.
The meeting in New York saw a Conmebol delegation lobby Infantino for a larger centenary tournament. The argument was twofold: it would be a grander celebration and would promote inclusivity. The unspoken prize for South America was the near-certainty of qualifying all ten of its member nations, a long-held ambition for the passionate footballing continent.
However, FIFA’s reality is that the idea is deeply unpopular among its key stakeholders. An internal source has confirmed that the plan would be soundly defeated if put to a vote in the FIFA Council. The consensus view is that a 64-team format would be a step too far, risking the tournament’s brand with a slew of potentially uninteresting, one-sided matches.
This internal view is powerfully supported by public statements from the heads of UEFA and Concacaf, Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani. Their criticism highlights a global resistance to what is perceived as over-commercialization and dilution of the sport’s premier competition.
With the World Cup already set to expand to 48 teams and the 2030 edition spanning three continents, the logistical and competitive challenges are already immense. South America’s vision for an even bigger party is, for now, being outweighed by FIFA’s responsibility to protect the integrity of the tournament itself.