Representatives of the Joint Morocco-Portugal-Spain Bid Commission for the FIFA 2030 World Cup held a special “reveal” ceremony on Tuesday, at which they presented an overview of the highly anticipated World Cup 2030, and revealed its slogan, logo, bid video clip, social media handles, and announced special World Cup 2030 ambassadors.
Held at the Portuguese Football Federation’s (FPF) headquarters in Football City, Lisbon, Portugal, key figures behind the bid attended the ceremony, notably, the President of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa; the President of the FPF, Fernando Gomes; and Fernando Sanz from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The FRMF announced in a press release at the end of the ceremony that “a successful bid would see the FIFA World Cup hosted across two continents for the first time in its centennial history . . . , bridging civilizations, creating a welcoming atmosphere for supporters from all backgrounds, and leaving a lasting legacy of sustainability, innovation, investment, and social impact.”
The federation also stated that the event provided a platform to detail the host countries’ strengths, including contemporary football infrastructure, easy travel times, and their “strong passion for football.”
“Yalla Vamos,” the official motto for the forthcoming global football event, combines Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish, and translates as “Let’s go.”
Concerning the visual identity of the “Yalla Vamos” tagline, the organizers said they had adopted a simple artistic approach involving different artists from the three countries. The graphic design honors the colors of the three flags by using arcs in solid red, yellow, green, and blue, also symbolizing the elements of nature.
“If we take a closer look, these arcs are also bridges that unite our three nations, our two continents, as well as football fans from around the world,” the coordinating committee stated.
“The number Zero is symbolized on the right by a sun whose three beams represent our three countries which radiate forward to form the football of tomorrow, surrounded by a classic black and white ball that echoes our long tradition and passion for the game,” the same source added.
Continuing the description of the logo, “On the left, the number three represents the sea and beaches that distinguish our three countries, where youth appear regularly to play football. Because all starts there, with a blue sea and golden beach . . . anything starts with our common nature: sun, sea, and wind . . . . These natural elements will also play a significant role in making this event the most sustainable FIFA World Cup in history.”
The committee also introduced World Cup 2030’s 11 ambassadors. The Moroccan side featured national team players Achraf Hakimi; Yassine Bounou; women’s national captain Ghizlane Chebbak; and former Moroccan international player Noureddine Naybet.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, Spanish players Andrés Iniesta and Álvaro Morata, and former Togolese international Emmanuel Adebayor, as well as Spanish players Dolores Silva and Irene Paredes are also recognized as ambassadors.
Reflecting upon the significance of the tournament, Fernando Gomes stated, “We are determined that our bid places fans at the heart of the event . . . . The FIFA World Cup will encompass 101 matches in each nation in 2030, but its influence can and will be far broader.”
Faouzi Lekjaa declared, “Today marks a crucial accomplishment for the three countries’ historic bid inspired by King Mohammed VI’s wise vision. Working with our Portuguese and Spanish counterparts every day demonstrates the positive benefits of collaboration and teamwork, and we are convinced that the entire football world will reap the rewards.”
Fernando Sanz remarked that Spain had hosted a FIFA World Cup in 1982, and “now, 42 years later, the kingdom joins two neighboring countries to hold a World Cup that will leave a mark for generations to come.”He added “We want to shape the future by hosting a one-of-a-kind World Cup. With excellent facilities for players and fans, a tournament with short travel times . . . . We are optimistic that supporters will have an unforgettable experience across our countries.”