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Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has opposed South America’s proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, warning that such a move could lead to “chaos.”
The 2030 centenary edition is already set to feature 48 teams — a significant increase from the 13 that took part in the inaugural tournament in Uruguay in 1930. It will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with three opening matches also scheduled in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
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AFC stands with 48 teams World Cup
“Personally, I don’t agree,” Sheikh Salman told AFP on Saturday during the 35th AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur. “The matter is settled with 48 teams.”
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez had earlier appealed to FIFA to consider a one-time expansion to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament, arguing it would be a symbolic gesture marking the World Cup’s 100th anniversary.
Dominguez also requested that an entire group-stage round be held in South America, rather than just the three scheduled matches.
The World Cup is already set to expand from 32 to 48 teams starting with the 2026 edition in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams, but someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams,” Salman cautioned. “Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
Despite his opposition to changes for 2030, Salman remained open to future discussions for tournaments beyond that, including the 2034 World Cup, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
“If we want to discuss subsequent tournaments… that’s a different matter,” he noted.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has also dismissed the expansion proposal as a “bad idea,” while FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom acknowledged the suggestion and said the organisation would “analyse” it.
“There are many things that need to be studied, and we will take our time and consult everyone,” Grafstrom added.
