The 2030 edition of the World Cup will reportedly be an intercontinental affair.
Morocco, Portugal and Spain will host the 24th tournament in 2030, according to a Wednesday morning report from David Ornstein of The Athletic.
However, per Ornstein, the first three matches of the tournament will be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to commemorate the World Cup’s 100th anniversary. Uruguay and Argentina contested the final of the first tournament in 1930, while Paraguay is home to the headquarters of CONMEBOL—the oldest of the continental confederations.
Each of the six host squads will reportedly receive automatic slots in the 48-team field.
🚨 Morocco, Portugal & Spain set to stage 2030 World Cup
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) October 4, 2023
🚨 To mark 100yrs of #FIFAWorldCup first 3 games to feature Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay at HOME
🚨 Opening ceremony + rest of event in host nations (all 6 qualify)
🚨 2034 in Asian or Oceana confedshttps://t.co/DCeVRYACsQ
This would be the first World Cup ever to be staged across multiple continents. It has been hosted by multiple nations once previously (by Japan and South Korea in 2002; Canada, Mexico and the United States will host the tournament in 2026).
According to Ornstein, the 2034 event will be held in either an Asian or Oceanian nation.
Uruguay, Argentina and Spain have all hosted World Cups in the past, in 1930, ’78 and ’82, respectively. Portugal hosted the European Championship in 2004, Morocco hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988 (and will do so again in ’25), and Paraguay hosted Copa America in 1999.
