The 2030 World Cup will be held in six different countries across three continents as FIFA mark the tournament’s 100th anniversary.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be the official World Cup hosts, but the first three games will take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay in a nod to the competition’s South American roots.
The radical move is the result of months of secret talks between UEFA and the South American and African federations, who took their proposal to FIFA. They gave their support in principle to avoid a lengthy and costly bidding process, and it will be rubber-stamped at next year’s FIFA Congress.
All six host countries will qualify automatically for the 48-team tournament, with South America’s allocation set to be cut down from their usual six automatic qualification spots and play-off place.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco have been favourites to host in 2030 since announcing their joint bid earlier this year. Uruguay and Argentina had wanted to jointly host the centenary World Cup as long ago as 2017, a romantic bid given they contested the first final in 1930, won by the Uruguayan hosts.
Morocco, Spain and Portugal are set to host the 2030 World Cup, with 2022 winners Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay set to stage the first three games of the tournament
The proposal would see the tournament’s opener take place in Uruguay – who won the first World Cup in 1930 – before games in South American countries Argentina and Paraguay
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Saudi Arabia also held talks with Greece and Egypt last year about submitting a joint bid, but the oil-rich kingdom have now announced their candidacy for 2034 instead.
The first game in 2030 will take place in Montevideo to recognise Uruguay’s legacy as the first World Cup winners and hosts, with the second game being held in Argentina. The third game is in Paraguay to recognise the country’s position as the birthplace of the South American federation, CONMEBOL. The 101 remaining matches will be in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
In a bizarre twist, the opening ceremony will be held in Spain, Portugal or Morocco despite the fact the first game will take place almost 6,000 miles away in Uruguay.
A 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia is almost inevitable – raising the prospect of another winter tournament just 12 years after Qatar 2022
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