The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be a historic event, as it will mark the 100th anniversary of the first edition of the tournament, which was held in Uruguay in 1930. To commemorate this milestone, FIFA has announced that the opening matches of the 2030 World Cup will be hosted by South America, where it all began.
Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to host one match each
According to the president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), Alejandro Domínguez, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host one match each of the 2030 World Cup, as part of a unique centenary celebration ceremony. Domínguez said that they “believed big” and that the Centenario World Cup will begin where it all began. He also hinted that the rest of the event would be held in the northern hemisphere, most likely Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The first of these three matches will be played at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, where Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final of the 1930 World Cup. The Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, welcomed FIFA’s decision and said that it does justice to those pioneers who built the history of soccer.
Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host the rest of the tournament
FIFA also confirmed that Morocco, Spain and Portugal will be the joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup, which will be the first time that the tournament will be staged across three continents and six countries. The FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the sole candidacy 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.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that in a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting. He said that the FIFA Council unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in the most appropriate way. He also said that Morocco, Spain and Portugal have shown great enthusiasm and commitment to host a memorable World Cup.
A historic and unprecedented World Cup
The 2030 World Cup will be a historic and unprecedented event, as it will not only celebrate 100 years of the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world, but also showcase the diversity and unity of football across different regions and cultures. The fans can expect to witness some thrilling matches and spectacular venues in South America, Europe and Africa. The 2030 World Cup will also be the second edition to feature 48 teams, after the 2026 World Cup in North America.
