World Cup: 64 teams, South American confederation pushes for expansion

Just one week after the 2026 World Cup was contested for the first time with 48 teams, the debate over the tournament format is already reigniting.

The president of the South American Football Confederation, Alejandro Dominguez, has in recent hours advocated for another major change. He too wants a World Cup expanded to 64 nations. It's an idea that Gianni Infantino has already admitted has been considered internally, despite the many criticisms sparked by the 2026 format.

The Paraguayan official defends this idea in the name of opening football to more countries: "International football thrives when it opens itself to the world. The switch to 48 teams showed that broader participation creates more opportunities, stimulates the development of the sport, and turns the World Cup into a true global celebration."

He added: "The Centenary offers us a historic opportunity to think big. Let’s make this World Cup the greatest celebration football has ever known."

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

Related teams and leagues

World Cup