Conmebol Proposes Expanding 2030 World Cup to 64 Teams

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has submitted a proposal to FIFA to increase the number of 2030 World Cup participants to 64 teams — this opens greater opportunities for Indonesia and Southeast Asian nations.

The current tournament format will be held in six countries with 48 participants — three South American nations namely Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay are allocated one match each as part of the World Cup’s 100th anniversary celebration.

The remaining 2030 World Cup matches will be staged in three main countries — Morocco, Portugal, and Spain as the primary hosts of the competition.

This disparity in match distribution has prompted Conmebol to submit a format change proposal — the federation seeks a larger share for the South American region in the prestigious event five years from now.

The proposal for an increased number of participants could lead to more teams from diverse regions gaining access to the World Cup.

With growing football development in Southeast Asia—Indonesia stands to benefit from this change, potentially securing a spot in future tournaments. The move also reflects Conmebol’s efforts to ensure fairer representation from all regions as football continues to grow globally.