The 2026 FIFA World Cup just wrapped, but before we can even catch our breath, talk is already buzzing about *another* massive expansion. Reports are flying around that FIFA could push the field to a whopping 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup, and honestly, after what we just saw with the 48-team format, that’s a wild thought.
Did the 48-Team World Cup Actually Work?
Look, the 2026 World Cup was the first time we saw that expanded 48-team format, which replaced the traditional 32-team tournament. But our own Pardeep Cattry reflected on it, and it sounds like there were some serious issues. He said the “new format still had its unfortunate but predictable flaws.” You remember the math of figuring out which third-place teams would advance? That whole thing was “not only headache-inducing but also counterproductive at times.”
It got messy. South Korea and Scotland were basically stuck in “purgatory” for days, just waiting for other results to see if they’d get knocked out. We saw group stage finales that got awfully close to being “dead-rubber,” and don’t even get me started on Australia’s “tepid 0-0 draw with Paraguay” which “definitely flirted with the idea of being known as the ‘Disgrace of Santa Clara’.” Plus, the Round of 32 sometimes felt more like an “extension of the group stage” than the real start of knockout play. That’s a big problem for the biggest tournament in the world.
The Push for Even More Teams
Despite these clear issues, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez says plans are already underway for a 64-team expansion for the 2030 World Cup. That edition will be a centenary celebration, co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with opening matches in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as a tribute to the tournament’s origins. Apparently, “several soccer executives with questionable taste (and selfish motivations)” are pushing for this expansion to solve the previous format’s conundrums. There’s no going back to 32 teams, with the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil essentially being a farewell to that “perfect format.”
In the meantime, club soccer is where the action is right now. MLS has resumed in full swing, and Europe’s top leagues are getting ready to kick off in just over a month. The transfer window over there is in its “key phase” as teams are scrambling to complete their rosters.
Tonight, Wednesday, July 22, we’ve got some solid MLS matchups to watch. Inter Miami CF is facing off against Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m., and later, LA Galaxy takes on St. Louis City SC at 10:30 p.m. There’s also USL action with Lexington vs. Oakland Roots.
Whether this 64-team World Cup plan actually comes to fruition for 2030 is still up in the air, but you can bet the debate is going to be intense. For now, enjoy the club drama, folks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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