By Samindra Kunti in Asuncion, Paraguay
May 16 – South American football boss Alejandro Dominguez has once again beat the drum for a 64-team World Cup in 2030 to celebrate the tournament’s centenary. Taking the stage in his home country of Paraguay it was a remarkable exhortion of FIFA’s members to “think in a different way”.
In his welcome address at the 75th FIFA Congress, marred by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s late arrival in the Paraguayan capital, Dominguez launched into a full blooded pitch for a 64-team World Cup, first mooted by Ignacio Alonso of Uruguay at a FIFA Council in April.
Dominguez invited the Congress to be “creative and think outside the box” but at no point did he refer to the number 64, but his message was unmistaken.
He also drew a comparison with his 50th birthday: “Every year, it is our birthday. I am going to give you an example – not too long ago, I turned 50 and my family prepared a totally different party. I would like to invite you to think outside the box.”
South America first launched a bid to stage the 2030 World Cup as a centenary celebration of the tournament, but ultimately compromised to end up with just three matches in Paraguay, the home of Conmebol, Uruguay, the first World Cup host, and Argentina.
Dominguez is however hungry for more and seized the opportunity to promise an unprecedented party in 2030.
“Football belongs to the world. We are transforming football. We want the world to be part of that big party that is a bigger one than the world has seen so far. The biggest party on earth. No-one can be left behind.”
Next year, the United States, Canada and Mexico will stage the first 48-team World Cup.
“I would like to repeat – don’t change your position, but reflect together to do something that the world is waiting for, something that football deserves. That’s Conmebol’s proposal – let’s dream big.”
Dominguez is indeed dreaming big. UEFA, AFC and Concacaf have all expressed opposition to the idea after Alonso launched it.
But while the biggest and most influential confederations are against it seems the issue is not dead and buried with yet because FIFA president Gianni Infantino like the idea.
He began his conference closing remarks saying “100 years will be an incredible celebration of all who have organised (World Cups) before us… Think of how we can really celebrate. It is a good idea. We have summits and meetings coming up, we always want to improve football.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1747402830labto1747402830ofdlr1747402830owedi1747402830sni@i1747402830tnuk.1747402830ardni1747402830mas1747402830. Additional reporting by moc.l1747402830labto1747402830ofdlr1747402830owedi1747402830sni@n1747402830osloh1747402830cin.l1747402830uap1747402830