Gulf News: The 2030 FIFA World Cup is set to bring significant changes to the tournament. FIFA and global soccer leaders have agreed to a single bid that expanded from Spain-Portugal to include Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This unique collaboration will result in a World Cup played across three continents in six different countries.
One of the key motivations for this decision is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, which had its inaugural final in Uruguay in 1930. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay are expected to host the opening matches of the 2030 World Cup, with a particular focus on playing in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, where the 1930 final took place.
“The centennial World Cup could not be far from South America, where everything began,” stated Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL. This decision marks the first time the World Cup will be played in three continents.
All six of the participating countries—Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay—will have their national teams automatically qualified for the tournament. This will also be the first time that Morocco hosts the World Cup from North Africa.
The selection of the 2030 World Cup host has accelerated the process of finding a host for the 2034 World Cup, which is expected to be held in Asia or Oceania, likely in November and December. Saudi Arabia is now seen as the primary candidate for the 2034 edition.
However, the final approval for the 2030 FIFA World Cup still requires formal confirmation during a meeting of the 211 member federations in 2024.
“In 2030,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated, “we will have a unique global footprint, three continents—Africa, Europe, and South America—six countries, welcoming and uniting the world while celebrating together the beautiful game, the centenary, and the FIFA World Cup.”
The tournament format will also change, increasing from 32 teams to 48, starting with the 2026 event hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
There have been concerns expressed, particularly by Football Supporters Europe, an officially recognized fan group by the Union of European Football Associations. They are displeased with the extensive travel requirements for the 2030 World Cup and believe it may boost Saudi Arabia’s candidacy for the 2034 edition. They argue that this decision is detrimental to supporters, the environment, and may overlook human rights concerns. The 2030 tournament is set to run in June and July and will consist of 104 matches.
