World Cup 2030 set to take place across six countries on three continents, Saudi Arabia to make 2034 bid

The 2030 World Cup will be played across six different countries and on three continents for the first time in history.

Morocco, Portugal and Spain will host the 48-team tournament but the opening three matches will be hosted by Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

The reason for the opening games in South America is to celebrate the World Cup's 100th year anniversary. Earlier this year, the three South American nations promoted a rival co-hosting bid. All six host nations will get automatic entry to the 2030 tournament.

"In a divided world, FIFA and football are uniting,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement released on Wednesday.

“The FIFA council, representing the entire world of football, unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup, whose first edition was played in Uruguay in 1930, in the most appropriate way.

"As a result, a celebration will take place in South America and three South American countries – Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay – will organise one match each of the FIFA World Cup 2030.

"The first of these three matches will of course be played at the stadium where it all began, in Montevideo’s mythical Estadio Centenario, precisely to celebrate the centenary edition of the FIFA World Cup.

“The FIFA council also agreed unanimously that the only bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 will be the joint bid of Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

“Two continents - Africa and Europe - united not only in a celebration of football but also in providing unique social and cultural cohesion. What a great message of peace, tolerance and inclusion.

“In 2030, we will have a unique global footprint, three continents – Africa, Europe and South America – six countries – Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay – welcoming and uniting the world while celebrating together the beautiful game, the centenary and the FIFA World Cup,” the FIFA president concluded.

FIFA have also confirmed that bidding for the 2034 World Cup will be exclusive to the Asian and Oceania Confederations.

Saudi Arabia have confirmed they will be bidding for the 2034 World Cup with Australia also reportedly interested after successfully co-hosting the Women's World Cup this year.

"We want to celebrate our football culture and share our country with the world," Yasser Al Misehal, the president of the Saudi football federation and a member of the FIFA Council, said in a government statement on Wednesday.

The 2030 World Cup is set to take place in June-July 2030.

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