FIFA decides to hold the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Morocco and Portugal

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) confirmed in an official statement today, Wednesday, that the 2030 World Cup will be held jointly in three countries: Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the first three matches being held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to celebrate the centenary of the competition.

FIFA explained in a statement that once the technical standards are verified after sending delegations, the hosts of the event will be officially announced at the beginning of 2024.

The statement indicated that the three matches that South America will host in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Asuncion will be within the framework of celebrating the centenary of the first World Cup in Uruguay, and FIFA called on the member associations of the Asian and Oceanic Confederations to submit their files to host the 2034 edition.

FIFA said: “After extensive consultations with all continental federations and given the importance of celebrating the centenary of the World Cup, the FIFA Council took major decisions regarding submitting nomination files and hosting the centenary of the World Cup in 2030 during its meeting, which was held via video.”

What is the 2030 World Cup system?
A FIFA statement revealed the first-ever hexagonal World Cup system, saying, “In 2030, the World Cup will bring together three continents and six countries, inviting the whole world to join in celebrating the beautiful, centenary game and the FIFA World Cup itself.”

For his part, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “In a divided world, FIFA and football unite. The FIFA Council, which represents the entire football world, unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the World Cup, the first edition of which was held in Uruguay in 1930, in the most appropriate way.”

He added, “As a result, the celebration will take place in South America, and three South American countries – Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay – will organize one match each in the 2030 edition. The first of these three matches will of course be held in the stadium where it all began, the legendary Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. “Specifically to celebrate the centenary of the World Cup.”

“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 as they celebrate together the beautiful game, the centenary and the FIFA World Cup,” he explained.

King Mohammed VI had announced that FIFA would grant Spain, Portugal and Morocco the organization of the 2030 World Cup.

It is noteworthy that Morocco will become the second Arab country to host the World Cup after the State of Qatar, which hosted the World Cup alone at the end of 2022.