100th Anniversary in Uruguay, Six Nations Host; Saudi Arabia & Australia Eye 2034

2030 World Cup to Celebrate 100th Anniversary in Uruguay

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in Europe and Africa, and Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay in South America.

This will be the first time the World Cup is played on more than one continent. The opening game will be held in Montevideo, Uruguay, at the Centenario Stadium, the same venue that hosted the 1930 final.

All six host nations will automatically qualify for the 48-team tournament. The decision to award the hosting rights to this joint bid was made by FIFA after reaching an agreement with the continental soccer leaders.

Saudi Arabia and Australia Vie for 2034 World Cup

The FIFA Council also opened bidding for the 2034 World Cup, with only member federations from Asia and Oceania eligible to bid. Saudi Arabia immediately entered the contest, and Australia is also interested after successfully co-hosting the Women's World Cup this year with New Zealand.

The 2034 tournament will likely be played in November and December, similar to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The final decision on the 2034 host will be made at a separate FIFA congress.

Concerns and Criticisms

The decision to award the 2030 World Cup to a six-nation bid has been met with mixed reactions. Some fans and organizations have expressed concerns about the logistical challenges and environmental impact of hosting the tournament across such a vast geographical area.

The Football Supporters Europe (FSE) criticized the decision, calling it "horrendous for supporters" and "disregards the environment." They also pointed to the human rights record of Saudi Arabia, which is bidding for the 2034 World Cup.

Despite these concerns, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his enthusiasm for the 2030 World Cup, stating that it will be a "unique global footprint" and a celebration of the beautiful game.