The president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), Alejandro Domínguez, said on Monday that the number of spots allocated to the region for the 2026 World Cup is 'barely fair,' pointing out that the qualifiers in South America are 'the most equal and competitive in the world.' 'We are happy because it's the first time South America has six and a half spots, but for us that barely seems fair,' Domínguez told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding between CONMEBOL and the Ministry of Childhood and Adolescence of Paraguay. 'The world is witness to the fact that World Cup qualifying, the most difficult in the world, is played in South America. The most equal, most competitive, is played in South America,' he added. Domínguez also said that the quality of World Cups would improve if all 10 CONMEBOL countries had direct tickets. In this regard, he recalled that CONMEBOL aims for the 2030 World Cup to be played with 64 teams, which could increase the number of South American spots for the top football event. 'If that were the case, we want matches to be held in each of the already chosen CONMEBOL host venues (Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina), and, above all, to have all 10 countries in the competition,' he pointed out. On November 13, Italy's coach, Genaro Gattuso, stated that the World Cup qualification criteria 'must be reviewed,' criticizing the fact that in South America, six out of ten teams qualify directly, with a seventh able to play in playoffs, according to media reports. Gattuso made these remarks before Italy's 0-2 victory over Moldova in the European qualifiers, a result that was not enough to secure their direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, meaning the Azzurra will have to play in the playoffs. The four-time world champion last played in a World Cup in Brazil 2014.
