World football governing body, FIFA, on Wednesday confirmed Morocco, Portugal and Spain as joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, while Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 2034 World Cup, Afrosport reports.
All 211 FIFA Member Associations were virtually present at an Extraordinary FIFA Congress to appoint the host nations of the two Mundial.
An agreement was, however, reached that three centenary celebration matches will be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay (one in each country) to kick-off the 2023 World Cup.
The opening match of the 2030 World Cup will be played in Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo to celebrate 100 years since the inaugural finals in 1930 when the hosts (Uruguay) beat Argentina 4-2 to win the first-ever World Cup tournament.
The next two games will then be played in Argentina and Paraguay, respectively, while the rest of the tournament will be staged across the three co-hosts.
The agreement for the 2030 World Cup, which was reached in October 2023, paved way for successful Saudi Arabia bid for the 2034 World Cup, as the Middle East nation ended as the sole bidders for the Mundial.
Following the decision on the appointment of the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 editions of the World Cup, President Gianni Infantino said: “The FIFA World Cup is unique, and it is a unique catalyst as well for positive social change and unity because these tournaments, 2030, the celebration, 2034 – they are tournaments to unite, not to divide.
“They are tournaments, of course, to discuss, to debate and to act. But most importantly, today, today is a day of unity and a day of celebration.
“Seven countries have won their World Cup today. Congratulations to Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Saudi Arabia. This is your day. So, you should celebrate and we, we celebrate, of course, with you.
“And you, the 211 FIFA Member Associations that I can see on a giant screen in front of me, you are uniting the world. You are uniting the world truly, through football, because, of course, football unites the world.”
The Extraordinary FIFA Congress also approved the budgetary principles for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, with all revenues generated being reinvested in club football.
