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South American Football Confederation
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Organisation

South American Football Confederation

South American football's continental governing body, known as CONMEBOL.

CONMEBOL is South American football's continental governing body, founded in Buenos Aires in 1916, whose president Alejandro Domínguez restated the case for a 64-team 2030 World Cup on 21 July with FIFA yet to confirm any expansion.

Last refreshed: 25 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

CONMEBOL and UEFA still owe Argentina and Spain a Finalissima; what happens to it now?

Timeline for South American Football Confederation

#45 21 Jul

Continued publicly pushing FIFA for a 64-team 2030 tournament

2026 FIFA World Cup: CONMEBOL renews its push for 64 teams in 2030
#43 18 Jul

Tapia and de la Fuente clash over Finalissima

2026 FIFA World Cup
#48 16 Jul

FIFPRO says one match in five was too hot

2026 FIFA World Cup
#28 23 Jun

Mentioned in: Colombia beat DR Congo to top Group K

2026 FIFA World Cup
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Background

Founded on 9 July 1916, Argentina's independence day, in the middle of the inaugural Copa América, CONMEBOL is the oldest of FIFA's six continental confederations and has the fewest member associations of any of them, ten, from Argentina to Venezuela. It is headquartered in Luque, Paraguay.

It runs the Copa América, South America's premier international tournament, alongside the Copa Libertadores club competition it launched in 1959, and co-organises the Finalissima with UEFA, pitting South America's continental champion against Europe's.

CONMEBOL has used that Finalissima platform, and its position as a confederation whose member states are hosting 2030's opening matches, to press FIFA on tournament format: president Alejandro Domínguez restated the case for a 64-team 2030 World Cup again on 21 July, though this remains the confederation's own advocacy rather than agreed FIFA policy. The push comes as FIFPRO recorded 19% of the tournament's 104 matches were played at dangerous heat levels, the threshold at which it recommends postponing play.

Common Questions

Reference

When was CONMEBOL founded?
On 9 July 1916, Argentina's independence day, during the first Copa America tournament, making it the oldest of FIFA's continental confederations.
Where is CONMEBOL headquartered?
Luque, Paraguay.
What is CONMEBOL?
South America's football confederation, one of FIFA's six continental governing bodies, founded in 1916.
Who runs CONMEBOL?
Alejandro Dominguez is CONMEBOL's president. The confederation, South American football's governing body, is headquartered in Luque, Paraguay.Source: Lowdown
Will the 2030 World Cup have 64 teams?
No decision has been made. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has publicly restated the case, but FIFA has confirmed nothing; Gianni Infantino said on 12 July only that it would be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees.Source: Lowdown
Why does CONMEBOL still owe Argentina and Spain a Finalissima?
UEFA said the planned Lusail venue was ruled out by regional conflict in March 2026, and no replacement venue was agreed.Source: Lowdown reporting
How hot did the 2026 World Cup get for players?
FIFPRO recorded that 19% of the tournament's 104 matches were played at a WBGT of 28C or above, the threshold at which it recommends postponing play, with six venues rated extremely high risk.Source: Lowdown

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 25 July 2026. Editorial standards.