CONMEBOL considers Nations League format as World Cup 2030 qualifier
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) is exploring the possibility of launching a cup-style tournament with financial prizes to determine its representatives for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Details: According to ge.globo, the concept draws inspiration from the CONMEBOL Women's Nations League. The tournament aims to keep teams motivated to compete, even those that have already secured a World Cup berth. This would include Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, which will host the opening matches of the 2030 World Cup and thus qualify automatically.
The proposed tournament would retain the current qualification format: a double round-robin where each team faces all others home and away, accumulating points. The key differences would be the awarding of an official title and the introduction of financial prizes. South America would maintain its six direct qualification spots for the 2030 World Cup, plus one additional spot available through the intercontinental playoffs.
A final decision is expected after the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. At the same time, CONMEBOL will try to persuade FIFA to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, a move that faces strong opposition—even from some South American federations.
Steven Perez
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