There have been a lot of questions about how the FIFA World Cup 2030 will play out with games scheduled to take place across three continents, Africa, Europe and South America. We provide you with the answers below.
The FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the sole candidacy for the FIFA World Cup 2030™ will be the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, which will host the event in 2030 and qualify automatically from the existing slot allocation subject to the completion of a successful bidding process conducted by FIFA and a decision by the FIFA Congress in 2024.
Additionally, having taken into account the historical context of the first-ever FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Council further unanimously agreed to host a unique centenary celebration ceremony in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, where the first ever FIFA World Cup took place in 1930, as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay respectively, also subject to the completion of a successful bidding process conducted by FIFA and a decision by the FIFA Congress in 2024.
It was also agreed that in line with the principle of confederation rotation and of securing the best possible hosting conditions for the tournaments, the bidding processes for both the 2030 and 2034 editions be conducted concurrently.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): FIFA World Cup 2030
Who is hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030?
The FIFA Council approved the joint candidacy of Morocco, Portugal and Spain in a single candidate bidding process. Therefore, subject to a successful bidding process conducted by the FIFA administration, their evaluation report to the FIFA Council and a decision by the FIFA Congress, Morocco, Portugal and Spain will be the tournament hosts, with 101 matches. The proposal was developed in consultation with, and supported by, the Confederations of CAF, CONMEBOL and UEFA.
Why will Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay stage three games?
2030 is a symbolic milestone for FIFA, as it celebrates 100 years since the first FIFA World Cup was played in South America across three stadiums. Following extensive consultation with all Confederations, the FIFA Council approved a unique celebration of the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in South America, specifically in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Therefore, subject to a successful bidding process conducted by the FIFA administration, their evaluation report to the FIFA Council (to assess whether the minimum hosting requirements are met) and a decision by the FIFA Congress, three matches of the FIFA World Cup 2030 will be played across Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
How and why were those countries selected?
The candidacy of Morocco, Portugal and Spain for the FIFA World Cup 2030 was proposed by CAF and UEFA. Similarly the candidacy of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay for the Centenary Celebration was proposed by CONMEBOL. Together the three confederations endorsed the overall proposal of these candidacies. With regard to the latter, subject to the successful bidding process outlined above and approval by the FIFA Congress, the centenary game will be played in Montevideo, Uruguay, in conjunction with the centenary celebration and ceremony, in recognition of Uruguay’s role as the host and winner of the 1930 edition. A game will be played in Argentina in recognition of Argentina’s role as finalist and runner-up of the 1930 edition. A game will be played in Paraguay in recognition of Paraguay’s role as the home of CONMEBOL, the first and only confederation in existence at the time of the 1930 edition.
Who took this decision?
The FIFA Council is the main decision making body of FIFA. It consists of members which include FIFA President Gianni Infantino, elected by the FIFA Congress, and eight FIFA vice presidents: Sheikh Salman (AFC), senior vice president; Alejandro Dominguez (CONMEBOL); Victor Montagliani (Concacaf); Aleksander Ceferin (UEFA); Lambert Maltock (OFC); Patrice Motsepe (CAF); Sandor Csanyi (UEFA) and Debbie Hewitt (UEFA), appointed via the Confederations. There are 28 other members elected by member associations via the Congress of their respective Confederations – each for a term of four years. Full details are provided here. This decision was unanimous.
Who qualifies for the FIFA World Cup 2030?
Subject to the successful bidding process outlined above and approval by the FIFA Congress, Morocco, Portugal and Spain, as tournament hosts, and Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, as hosts of the centenary celebration, will qualify automatically from the slot allocation quota of their respective confederations.
How will the match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2030 accommodate the additional travel involved across six countries?
The match schedule of the FIFA World Cup 2030 will be uniquely adapted to provide additional and adequate days between matches for the teams involved in the Centenary Celebratory games to travel, rest, adapt and prepare. The intended schedule will provide approximately 11 to 12 days for travel and rest before the second game of the six teams playing in South America, with approximately five to six days for travel and rest for the remaining six group opponents, and all other participating teams. The three matches played in South America will be brought forward to a few days before the official opening matches of the FIFA World Cup, which will be played in Morocco, Portugal and Spain. The below summary illustrates the relevant dates of how this could be achieved.
- Saturday-Sunday 8-9 June 2030: Centenary celebration ceremony and first matches of Uruguay in Montevideo, Argentina at home and Paraguay at home
- Thursday-Friday 13-14 June 2030: Opening ceremony and opening game(s) of the FIFA World Cup 2030
- Saturday-Sunday 15-16 June 2030: First matches of the other teams of the groups of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay
- Friday-Saturday 21-22 June 2030: Second matches of all teams of the groups of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay
- Sunday 21 July 2030: Final of the FIFA World Cup 2030
The required adjustments to the match schedule will all be achieved within the framework of the existing International Match Calendar, with the total release period remaining unchanged compared to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Consequently, there would be no additional days required to the status quo, with no additional burden on any participating teams, players or their domestic clubs. Additionally, the same exceptions to the overall total release period for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ for those players competing in the finals of confederation club competitions will also apply.
In terms of increased travel for fans, of course without the fans, the FIFA World Cup is nothing. The FIFA World Cup is a global event and three games in South America will also offer supporters in that region the chance to attend games in the tournament, with half of the teams playing at home, where they may not ordinarily have travelled to Europe and/or Africa.
How is hosting a World Cup over six countries sustainable?
Subject to the successful bidding process outlined above and approval by the FIFA Congress, Morocco, Portugal and Spain will be the hosts of the FIFA World Cup 2030. Therefore, for 101 games, the tournament will be played in a footprint of neighboring countries in close geographic proximity and with extensive and well developed transport links and infrastructure. Three games will take place in South America, also in neighboring countries in close geographic proximity to mark the 100th year of the tournament, in a unique celebration. FIFA will take all required measures to mitigate the environmental impact of the FIFA World Cup. From a sustainability point of view, it’s also worth mentioning that only one bid significantly reduces travel in relation to site inspection visits and other meetings.
When are the hosts for the FIFA World Cup 2030 officially confirmed?
The FIFA Congress, which is made up of all 211 member associations, is expected to take its decision in Q4 2024.
Can I see documents relating to the bidding process and hosting of FIFA World Cup 2030?
Yes, FIFA is a transparent governing body and all documents are published on FIFA.com and, where relevant, in all FIFA media releases.
