In an epoch-making decision, the FIFA Council has made critical choices about the 2030 and 2034 editions of the FIFA World Cup™, with universal celebrations in store for fans and players alike.
2030 World Cup: Spain, Morocco, and Portugal Unite
In a historic and unified decision, the FIFA Council endorsed Spain, Morocco, and Portugal’s joint bid to host the World Cup in 2030.
This global celebration of football, marking the tournament’s centenary, promises to bind three continents and six countries. Furthermore, all three host countries will gain automatic qualifications to the tournament’s final phase, subject to a successful evaluation process by FIFA and a final decision by the FIFA Congress in 2024.
It’s widely speculated that the final match of the 2030 World Cup could be hosted in the newly renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, a state-of-the-art facility ready to welcome fans from all over the world.
A Trip Down Memory Lane: Celebrating the First World Cup
Acknowledging the significant history of the inaugural World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930, Montevideo, the nation’s capital, will host special centenary celebrations. Additionally, three group stage matches will be played across Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, articulated the sentiment, emphasizing that the World Cup’s impact in 2030 will be unparalleled, bringing together three continents and six countries in a global embrace of football.
Looking Ahead: 2034 FIFA World Cup Bids Open
Adhering to the principle of confederation rotation, the council has decided that the AFC and OFC member federations are invited to express their interest in hosting the 2034 World Cup. The same criteria established by the FIFA Council on June 23, 2023, for the 2030 edition, will be applied.
Russia’s U-17 Teams Reinstated
On another critical note, the FIFA Council approved the decision to allow Russia’s U-17 male and female teams to participate in FIFA’s U-17 World Cup competitions. This decision was made in alignment with the UEFA’s decision from September 26. However, these teams must compete under the title “Russian Football Federation” instead of “Russia”, and refrain from using their national flag, anthem, official uniform, and equipment, opting for neutral colors. FIFA reiterated its condemnation of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, maintaining the measures decided upon on February 28, 2022.
Debut of FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup
The FIFA Council confirmed the inauguration of the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup™, set to take place in 2025 with 16 teams. Further details regarding the dates and the host nation will be announced later.
FIFA’s Upcoming Competitions
The FIFA Council confirmed expansions and dates for several other tournaments:
- The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024™ will be expanded from 16 to 24 teams, hosted by Colombia from August 31 to September 22, 2024.
- The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ is scheduled from October 16 to November 3, 2024.
- The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025™ will be held from May 1 to 11, 2025.
New Appointment
Lastly, Mattias Grafström, FIFA’s Deputy Secretary-General (Football), has been appointed as the acting Secretary-General of FIFA with immediate effect.
With these monumental decisions, the FIFA Council has not only set the course for the future of global football but also echoed its mission to foster unity, tolerance, and inclusion through the beautiful game.
