World Cup 2030 is set to be held in six countries across three continents, while Saudi Arabia could be set to host the 2034 edition of the tournament.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are on course to co-host the 2030 edition of the men’s tournament, with three South American nations Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay staging the opening matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.
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Montevideo in Uruguay, the city which hosted the first World Cup finals match in 1930, is poised to stage the opening match in seven years’ time with games in Argentina and Paraguay to follow.
The rest of the 48-team tournament will then move to north Africa and Europe, under a proposal from UEFA, the Confederation of African Football and South American confederation CONMEBOL which was accepted by the FIFA council at a meeting on Wednesday.
The hosting arrangement is now subject to formal approval by FIFA’s congress.
Uruguay’s selection for 2030 is in recognition of their role as hosts and winners of the opening tournament, Argentina’s as runners-up in that tournament and Paraguay’s as the traditional home of CONMEBOL.
Argentina Celebrates after winning the last world cup in Qatar.
In 2030, we will have a unique global footprint, three continents Africa, Europe and South America six countries Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay welcoming and uniting the world while celebrating together the beautiful game, the centenary and the FIFA World Cup.a
“In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“The FIFA Council, representing the entire world of football, 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 matches will of course be played at the stadium where it all began, in Montevideo’s mythical Estadio Centenario, precisely to celebrate the centenary edition of the FIFA World Cup.
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“The FIFA Council also agreed unanimously that the only bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 will be the joint bid of Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Two continents – Africa and Europe – united not only in a celebration of football but also in providing unique social and cultural cohesion. What a great message of peace, tolerance and inclusion.”
Past host of FIFA Men’s World Cup
2022 – Qatar (November to December)
2018 – Russia
2014 – Brazil
2010 – South Africa
2006 – Germany
2002 – Japan and South Korea
1998 – France
1994 – United States
1990 – Italy
1986 – Mexico
1982 – Spain
1978 – Argentina
1974 – West Germany
1970 – Mexico
1966 – England
1962 – Chile
1958 – Sweden
1954 – Switzerland
1950 – Brazil
1938 – France
1934 – Italy
1930 – Uruguay