Alejandro Domínguez, the president of South American soccer’s ruling physique Conmebol, made an official proposal on Thursday to increase the lads’s 2030 World Cup to 64.
Fifa is conscious of the proposal, which was first launched final March by a delegate from Uruguay throughout an internet assembly of the ruling council of world soccer’s governing physique.
“We’re satisfied that the centennial celebration can be distinctive as a result of 100 years are celebrated solely as soon as,” Domínguez mentioned throughout his opening speech at Conmebol’s eightieth Unusual Congress.
The 2030 World Cup is already set to be probably the most sprawling version with six host nations unfold throughout three continents. The World Cup that precedes it, in 2026 within the US, Mexico and Canada, is ready to be the primary with an already expanded, 48-team area.
The 2026 enlargement is already going through criticism that it devalues the group stage, with eight of 12 complete third-place groups making the knockout spherical. Below a 32-team format, the highest two groups in every group made the knockout spherical.
Uruguay was the unique World Cup host in 1930 and is scheduled to stage one recreation in 2030. Paraguay, Argentina, Spain, Portugal and Morocco are additionally co-hosts.
“That’s the reason we’re proposing, for the primary time, to carry this anniversary with 64 groups, on three continents concurrently,” added Domínguez.
Critics of the 64-team proposal have argued it would weaken the standard of play and devalue the qualifying program in most continents. For instance, increasing to 64 groups would in all probability assure all 10 Conmebol member nations a spot in a much bigger event. Venezuela is the one one of many group that has by no means certified for a World Cup.
“This can permit all nations to have the chance to stay the world expertise and so no one on the planet is ignored of the get together,” added Domínguez.
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If Fifa approves the transfer, it might create a event of 128 matches, double the variety of the 64-game format that was performed from 1998 via 2022.
Nonetheless, Uefa president Aleksander Čeferin has referred to as a 64-team World Cup “a nasty concept.”
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