ZURICH: FIFA, the world’s soccer governing body, announced on Wednesday that the 2030 men’s World Cup will be hosted by six countries across three continents to mark the 100-year anniversary of the tournament’s first edition.
The historic event will see Spain, Portugal, and Morocco co-hosting the tournament, while Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina will each stage an opening match, commemorating 100 years since the inaugural World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed the significance of this joint effort, stating, “In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting. The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in the most appropriate way.” He further emphasized the unity of continents and the cultural cohesion this event will provide, promoting values of peace, tolerance, and inclusion.
“This joint bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain represents the only proposal to host the FIFA World Cup 2030,” Infantino added, highlighting the global unity this collaboration represents. The tournament will bring together Africa, Europe, and South America with six host countries—Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay.
2030 FIFA World Cup Inaugural Match
All six participating countries will receive automatic qualification for the 48-team tournament. FIFA also announced that the inaugural match of the 2030 World Cup will be played at the historic Estádio Centenário in Montevideo, the venue of the first-ever World Cup final in 1930.
Morocco, hosting the global tournament for the first time, will make history as the first North African nation to host official World Cup games. The event is anticipated to showcase not only the spirit of competition but also the shared love for the beautiful game across nations and continents.
