Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup, but Fifa also announced that Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host three matches to commemorate the tournament’s centennial a year earlier than expected.
The only candidate to host the competition, according to Fifa, is the combined offer from Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. The 1930 World Cup was the first to be staged, and Uruguay won it after defeating Argentina in the championship match in Montevideo.
Following the forced resignation of Spain’s disgraced former president Luis Rubiales due to his claimed uninvited kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips at the Women’s World Cup, Spain has now been given the World Cup.
“The Fifa Council unanimously agreed that the sole candidacy will be the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, which will host the event in 2030 and qualify automatically from the existing slot allocation subject to the completion of a successful bidding process conducted by Fifa and a decision by the Fifa Congress in 2024,” Fifa said in a statement.
“Additionally, having taken into account the historical context of the first-ever Fifa World Cup, the Fifa Council further unanimously agreed to host a unique centenary celebration ceremony in the country’s capital, Montevideo… as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay respectively.”
Some teams may have to play their group matches during various seasons because the World Cup is spread across six nations in two hemispheres.
In order to avoid playing in the sweltering heat of the Gulf summer, the 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar but was relocated from the customary midyear window and played in November and December.
The defending champions Argentina have announced that they will “play the first match of the 2030 group stage at home and with its people,” according to their football association (AFA).
“The Fifa Council… unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the Fifa World Cup, whose first edition was played in Uruguay in 1930, in the most appropriate way.
“As a result, a celebration will take place in South America and three South American countries — Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay — will organise one match each of the Fifa World Cup 2030.”
The first of these three games, according to Infantino, will take place at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, the site of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina will all automatically qualify for the World Cup, according to Robert Harrison, head of the Paraguayan Football Association. However, he did not elaborate on what this means for the South American qualifying tournament.
Although Paraguay has won the Copa America championship twice, their finest tournament performance was being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup, where they had previously qualified.
In the South American World Cup qualifications for the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments, they never advanced past seventh place.
Spain last hosted the World Cup in 1982, whereas Portugal and Morocco have never done so.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Management Committee President, Pedro Rocha, expressed excitement about bringing the 2010 World Cup to his nation.
“I am sure that together with Morocco and Portugal we will organise the best World Cup in history,” he said.
After failing to win the hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 editions alongside Spain, Portugal, who hosted the European Championship in 2004, has finally prevailed in the World Cup bidding process.
“Each of our countries brings a vibrant footballing tradition, unmatched organizational experience, and a capacity for innovation that will undoubtedly leave its mark on the future of the competition,” said Fernando Gomes, head of the Portuguese Football Federation.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco praised Fifa’s choice. When the African nation became the first team from the continent to reach the semifinals in Qatar last year, they astounded the entire globe.
“His Majesty King Mohammed VI… has the great pleasure of announcing to the Moroccan people that the Fifa Council has unanimously selected the Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid as the sole candidate to organise the 2030 football World Cup,” Morocco’s Royal Office said in a statement.
Morocco has been chosen as the second African country to host the World Cup after South Africa in 2010. The decision comes after Morocco was also chosen to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations. Soccer plays a significant role in Moroccan life, with its biggest teams often winning African club competitions. Morocco is expanding capacity at two of its biggest stadiums in Rabat and Tangier. Fifa announced that the 2034 World Cup will be held in the Asia or Oceania region, with member associations from those territories invited to bid. Saudi Arabia announced its intention to bid for the 2034 edition.
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