FIFA has announced that the combined bid from Morocco, Portugal, and Spain will host the 2030 FIFA World Cup in an unexpected turn of events.
Additionally, the honour of hosting the first matches of the 2030 FIFA World Cup has been given to Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
FIFA had originally intended to announce the hosts next year; hence, this decision was made earlier than expected. Notably, Uruguay hosted the first World Cup in 1930, which resulted in victory for the host country after Argentina was defeated in the championship game played in Montevideo.
This significant decision marks the first time the World Cup will be held across three continents and six nations.
“The FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain will be the only candidature, and that it will host the event in 2030 and qualify automatically from the existing slot allocation,” FIFA said in a statement. “Subject to the conclusion of a successful bidding process conducted by FIFA and a decision by the FIFA Congress in 2024.”
Additionally, the FIFA Council unanimously decided to hold a special centenary celebration ceremony in Montevideo, the nation’s capital, as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, respectively. This was done in consideration of the historical context of the first-ever FIFA World Cup.
Spain last played host to the World Cup in 1982, whereas Portugal and Morocco have never done so.
Response of Host Countries
Pedro Rocha, the head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s management committee, voiced his enthusiasm for bringing the World Cup back to Spain, which won it in 2010. He asserted with assurance, “I am sure that together with Morocco and Portugal, we will organise the best World Cup in history.”
After making unsuccessful bids to host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 in conjunction with Spain, Portugal, which had previously hosted the European Championship with success in 2004, has now finally acquired the rights to host a World Cup.
The president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Gomes, said, “Each of our countries brings a vibrant footballing tradition, unrivalled organisational experience, and a capacity for innovation that will undoubtedly leave its mark on the future of the competition.”
Morocco, an African nation that made headlines in Qatar last year by becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals, warmly embraced FIFA’s decision. Following South Africa’s 2010 hosting of the World Cup, Morocco will serve as the second African nation to host the event.
Additionally, FIFA has declared that Asia or Oceania will host the 2034 World Cup, inviting its member associations from these regions to submit bids for the event.
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom has already stated that it intends to submit a proposal for the 2034 edition.
It is important to note that the United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup.
