Sport24.az
After the 2026 World Cup, which will be held for the first time with 48 teams, FIFA is considering another historic change for the 2030 tournament. The possibility of increasing the number of participants from 48 to 64 teams is being discussed for the mundial, which will be organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the tournament. According to Sport24.az, the 2030 World Cup will be held in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay from June 8 to July 21.
Thus, for the first time in the history of the World Cup, the tournament will be held in 3 continents and 6 countries. The national teams of the six host countries will qualify directly for the final stage without going through the qualifying stage.
The first three games will be held symbolically in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the World Cup.
The opening game of the anniversary is planned to be held at the "Sentenario" stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, which hosted the first World Cup in 1930.
Argentina will play its first match at the "Monumental" stadium in Buenos Aires, and Paraguay will play at the "Osvaldo Dominguez Dibb" stadium in Asuncion.
The main part of the tournament will continue in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco from June 13-14.
The main competition for hosting the 2030 World Cup final is between Spain and Morocco.
While Spain's renovated "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium is considered the main favorite, Morocco's "Grand Stade Hassan II" in Casablanca, which has a capacity of 115,000 spectators, is also a strong contender for the final.
FIFA has not yet announced the final list of stadiums where the tournament will be held.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has put forward the possibility of increasing the number of participants to 64 teams in 2030, citing the success of the 2026 tournament.
Infantino stated that giving more opportunities for small football countries to participate could boost their development.
This initiative has been supported by the President of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), Alejandro Dominguez.
However, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, have opposed the proposal, stating that a 64-team World Cup would create serious problems both organizationally and in the qualifying stage.
