The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, according to the international governing body of football, FIFA.

 

The FIFA Council made the decision, according to a statement posted on FIFA’s website on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

The FIFA Council made significant decisions regarding the bidding and hosting of the Centenary edition of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 during its meeting held by videoconference from the Home of FIFA after extensive consultation with all confederations and given the significance of marking the FIFA World Cup’s centennial.

“The FIFA World Cup will unite three Continents and six Nations in 2030, and we cordially invite you to join us in celebrating the Centenary, the FIFA World Cup, and the beautiful game.

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The FIFA Council unanimously decided that Morocco, Portugal, and Spain’s joint bid would be the only contender. Morocco, Portugal, and Spain would automatically qualify from the current slot allocation if FIFA’s bidding process were to be successful, and the FIFA Congress would make the final decision in 2024. The event would take place in 2030.

The FIFA Council unanimously decided to host a special centenary celebration ceremony in Montevideo, the nation’s capital, where the first-ever FIFA World Cup was played in 2030, as well as three World Cup games in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, respectively. This was in addition to taking into account the historical context of the first-ever FIFA World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said; “In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting. 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 Estádio Centenário, precisely to celebrate the centenary edition of the FIFA World Cup.”

Infantino added:”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.

“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.”

While Morocco and Portugal have never staged the FIFA World Cup, Spain hosted the tournament in 1982.