FIFA is once again at the center of a storm after a bold proposal from South American football leaders reignited debates over the future of the World Cup. The governing body confirmed it is weighing up the possibility of expanding the 2030 tournament to 64 teams , a move critics warn could stretch the competition’s legacy to breaking point.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will already mark history as the first edition with 48 nations. Yet even before a ball has been kicked in the expanded format, discussions are underway to inflate the field further. CONMEBOL’s leadership, backed by political heavyweights from Paraguay and Uruguay, pitched the idea as a grand gesture to mark the tournament’s centenary year. Their push has been echoed by Argentine officials, who claim football’s “biggest birthday” deserves an equally oversized celebration.
But the prospect of a 64-nation extravaganza has exposed deep fractures within the game’s corridors of power. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin slammed the plan as a “bad idea,” while CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani cautioned against running before FIFA has even learned to walk with the 48-team structure. “We haven’t even tested the new system,” Montagliani argued. “Why talk about adding more when the format itself is already uncharted territory?”
For fans, frustration has boiled over on social media, where sarcastic jabs and blunt criticism dominate the conversation. “Why not just invite every country on the planet and let the tournament run for six months?” one supporter posted. Another fumed: “It’s the World Cup, not the Olympics,” while many accused South America of seeking guaranteed slots for all 10 of its national teams. The sentiment is clear: expansion risks diluting the drama of qualification and diminishing the tournament’s prestige.
Gianni Infantino, ever the showman president, has offered mixed signals. While admitting logistical hurdles remain even for the 48-team format, he told delegates earlier this year that “every idea is a good idea” and half-joked he’d stage a World Cup with all 211 FIFA members if it were possible. Ahead of Tuesday’s closed-door meetings, he struck a more cryptic tone: “We must work together to deliver something the world will never forget. The people deserve it.” His words have only fueled speculation that the 64-team concept is gaining traction at FIFA headquarters.
With six nations and three continents already confirmed as co-hosts for 2030 , including symbolic opening matches in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina , the tournament is already unprecedented. Now, as FIFA toys with yet another expansion, critics argue the very essence of football’s crown jewel is under threat. “Done with international football if this happens,” wrote one fan. “FIFA is on a mission to ruin the World Cup.” Whether the world’s governing body listens or presses forward, the centenary edition of football’s greatest spectacle could prove to be its most divisive yet.
