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| FIFA Announces 2030 World Cup Games to Span Across Europe, Africa, and South America |
Morocco, Portugal, and Spain have been selected as the joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup, with additional matches scheduled to take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the tournament's centenary, according to an announcement by FIFA on Wednesday.
FIFA revealed that the matches in South America, specifically in Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and Asuncion, are part of the centennial celebration, marking 100 years since the inaugural World Cup held in Uruguay.
The majority of the matches will be held within the three primary host countries, bringing an end to the competitive bidding process between two significant proposals. One was led by Spain and Portugal, while the other came from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay.
Once the technical criteria have been officially validated, FIFA will confirm the awarding of this prestigious event in 2024. Following unanimous approval by the FIFA Council, it appears likely that this unprecedented intercontinental format will be realized, despite presenting complex political and logistical challenges and raising concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale sporting events.
At one point, Spain and Portugal had included Ukraine in their bid as a gesture of solidarity and hope, paying tribute to the tenacity and resilience of a country invaded by Russia in February 2022. Morocco, a five-time unsuccessful candidate to host the tournament, joined forces with them in mid-March.
The agreement between the European body UEFA and its African counterpart (CAF) and South American counterpart (CONMEBOL) confirmed the withdrawal of Ukraine and the South American countries, with a symbolic concession in return.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked, "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 fitting manner."
A "centenary ceremony" is planned to be held at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario, where the tournament originated in 1930, when 13 teams gathered in a single host city—quite a contrast to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with 32 teams and the 2026 World Cup in North America, which will feature 48 teams.
FIFA also disclosed its invitation for bids from the Asian and Oceanian continental confederations to host the 2034 World Cup.
Additionally, FIFA announced the lifting of its ban on Russian under-17 teams participating in international competitions, following UEFA's decision last week to lift a ban on Russia's youth sides.
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