The momentum behind a potential 64-team World Cup has stalled following a summit at Trump Tower between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and South American football leaders. While the meeting marked the first formal discussion of the proposal for the 2030 tournament, FIFA has indicated that it is not planning to proceed with the expansion due to a lack of internal support.
The delegation from Conmebol, representing the interests of the 2030 co-hosts Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, presented their case for a larger tournament. Their vision included a format that would see nearly one-third of all FIFA member nations participate, which would significantly increase the chances for the ten South American countries to qualify.
However, the ambitious pitch is at odds with the prevailing opinion within FIFA’s own governance structure. An inside source was adamant that the proposal would fail to secure the necessary votes in the FIFA Council. The overarching concern is that a 64-team tournament would diminish the World Cup’s elite status and create a commercially risky product filled with uncompetitive games.
This view is not held in secret. Powerful confederation heads, including UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf’s Victor Montagliani, have publicly spoken out against the idea. Their roles as FIFA vice-presidents give their criticism significant influence, effectively creating a major roadblock for the South American plan.
The World Cup is already expanding to 48 teams in 2026, a move that is itself a major undertaking. A further jump to 64 teams, which would double the number of matches from the 2022 edition, is considered a step too far by the game’s key stakeholders. The idea is not on the agenda for the next FIFA Council meeting, signaling a definitive pause.
