The president of South America’s football governing body, Alejandro Dominguez, has proposed a bold and historic expansion of the 2030 FIFA World Cup — calling for the tournament to feature 64 teams across three continents in celebration of its centenary edition.

Speaking at CONMEBOL’s 80th Ordinary Congress, Dominguez emphasized the symbolic importance of the 100-year anniversary of the World Cup, which first kicked off in Uruguay in 1930.

“We are convinced that the centennial celebration will be unique because 100 years are celebrated only once,” Dominguez declared.

This is the first official confirmation from CONMEBOL leadership backing a proposal that was initially floated by a Uruguayan delegate during a FIFA council meeting chaired by president Gianni Infantino last month.

The 2030 tournament is already set to be historic in its geographical scope. Six countries across three continents — Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco — have been selected to co-host the event. Uruguay will stage the symbolic opening match, paying homage to the tournament’s birthplace.

“That is why we are proposing, for the first time, to hold this anniversary with 64 teams, on three continents simultaneously,” Dominguez added.

Opinion: A 64-Team World Cup? Celebration or Complication?

While Dominguez’s call for a 64-team World Cup aims to match the grandeur of the event’s 100th year, it also raises eyebrows. The tournament is already expanding to 48 teams in 2026 across three North American nations. Now, with six hosts and three continents in play for 2030, some are asking: Where do we draw the line between ambition and chaos?

Logistics, time zones, player fatigue, and travel burdens will be massive challenges. But perhaps the bigger question is whether this expansion truly honors the spirit of the centenary — or simply overcomplicates it.

That said, the vision behind Dominguez’s proposal is undeniably powerful. Football is more global than ever, and what better way to mark 100 years of the world’s biggest sporting event than by bringing more countries and fans into the fold?

Whether FIFA bites remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The 2030 World Cup is already shaping up to be like nothing we’ve ever seen.