North African giants Morocco are set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside European heavyweights Spain and Portugal after their joint bid was accepted as the sole candidate for the Mundial, the world governing body announced on Wednesday.
The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to the decision in Zurich, Switzerland, after they reached an agreement with the continental leaders to accept only one candidate to host the 2030 tournament.
Although the three nations will be the main hosts of the competition, the opening three matches will take place in South America across Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, with the aim of marking the World Cup’s centenary as it will be 100 years since the inaugural tournament in Montevideo.
The full decision, however, will become official at a FIFA Congress in 2024, which will see the three South American nations, along with Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, all automatically qualify from the respective allocated spots for the Mundial.
“In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. “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.
“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,” Infantino added. “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,” the President head concluded.
The 2030 tournament, which will feature 48 teams, will be held in six countries across three continents—Africa, Europe, and South America—and could also be played in two different seasons.
With the proposal set to be approved next year, Morocco would become just the second African nation to host a World Cup, after South Africa in 2010. Spain, who were hosts in 1982, will get the honors for the second time, while it will be Portugal’s first.
FIFA also confirmed on Wednesday that only bids from countries within the Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Confederation will be considered for the 2034 hosting candidacy.
