Spain, Portugal, Morocco to Host 2030 World Cup, With Opening Matches in South America

The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with the addition of three South American countries.

This historic collaboration aims to open the tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay, where the inaugural 1930 World Cup final took place.

Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL, emphasized the importance of having the centennial World Cup close to South America, where the tournament originated. The 2030 World Cup will span three continents.

This consensus among once-rival soccer continents has led FIFA to expedite the bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, which will be limited to member federations from Asia and Oceania. Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in hosting the 2034 tournament, and Australia is also considering a bid following the successful co-hosting of the Women's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 World Cup will likely be held in November and December, similar to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. While the FIFA Council has accepted the unified 2030 candidacy, it still requires formal approval from the 211 member federations, a step expected to be a mere formality.

The 2030 World Cup, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, is scheduled for June and July. It will commence with matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay before moving to the core host nations of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This arrangement entails extensive travel across distances and time zones.

The South American co-host bid has been in development since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, initially including Chile, which was not mentioned in the latest announcement. Ukraine was also previously included but seems to have been dropped from the bid. The 2030 World Cup will follow the 2026 edition hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which will be the first 48-team men's World Cup.

SportsLigue