South America’s World Cup Power Play Rebuffed by Global Football Community

A significant power play by South America’s football confederation to reshape the World Cup has been rebuffed by the global football community. The proposal for a 64-team tournament in 2030, which would have greatly benefited Conmebol, has been effectively rejected by FIFA due to widespread opposition from other key stakeholders.
The plan was formally presented to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a New York meeting with leaders from Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The expansion to 64 teams would have created a clear path for all ten Conmebol nations to qualify, dramatically increasing the confederation’s influence and presence at the sport’s biggest event.
However, the proposal has been met with a firm and united front of opposition. Sources within FIFA have confirmed that the plan has no support within the FIFA Council, where it is seen as a self-serving move that would damage the overall quality of the World Cup. The fear is that the tournament would become bloated and less competitive.
This resistance has been vocalized by the heads of other powerful confederations. UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf’s Victor Montagliani have both publicly criticized the idea, signaling that the move is seen as a regional power grab rather than a proposal for the good of the global game.
While FIFA remains officially open to dialogue, the practical reality is that the 64-team proposal is dead on arrival. The global football community has sent a clear message that the World Cup’s future will be decided by consensus, not by the ambitions of a single confederation.