In the final phase of FIFA’s bidding procedure, the football federations of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain submitted their official bid book to the International Football Federation (FIFA) on Monday to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, according to a statement by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
At a ceremony held at FIFA’s headquarters in Paris, the presidents of the three football federations—Fouzi Lekjaa, President of FRMF, Fernando Gomes of the Portuguese Football Federation, and Álvaro de Miguel, Secretary General of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, presented the bid to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The joint bid is driven by the motto “Yalla Vamos,” which combines Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish, and translates as “Let’s go.”
Focusing on uniting two continents and nurturing cultural connections to create a welcoming environment for fans and visitors from all backgrounds, the bid document contains detailed plans for significant investments in transportation, accommodation, and infrastructure for the major world event.
Significant promotional efforts during the bid campaign led to it garnering tens of thousands of social media followers, advancing football globally.
A group of distinguished football ambassadors backed the bid. These included former legends Luis Figo, Andres Iniesta, Nourredine Naybet, and Emmanuel Adebayor, as well as current top players Cristiano Ronaldo, Achraf Hakimi, Dolores Silva, Ghizlane Chebbak, Álvaro Morata, Irene Paredes, and Yassine Bounou.
Upon receiving the bid, FIFA President Infantino praised it and commended the countries for their significant contributions to advancing football. “Your three countries have already given so much to football, with a great passion for the game, excellent organizational capabilities, and a shared vision of what football and its values should be.”
“It is fantastic that you have united two continents in the dream of hosting the FIFA World Cup. Football unites the world, and you are proving it with this bid,” he added.
Lekjaa said he was proud to submit a “historic proposal” to host the centennial World Cup. “We are truly convinced that our bid will create a legacy for current and future generations, uniting people worldwide and making all Africans proud,” he said.
Gomes highlighted that the initiative “prioritizes environmental protection,” integrating the demands of the tournament with the needs of host cities and communities, while also promoting diversity and inclusion.
De Miguel noted the historical aspect of hosting the event, highlighting the unity between the continents and their people.
“42 years ago,” he said, “our country hosted a World Cup: 1982 in Spain. More than 40% of our population was not born then. The 2030 FIFA World Cup will bring together the generations who witnessed it and those who did not.”
In October 2023, the FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain to host the World Cup in 2030 was the “sole candidacy” and would qualify automatically subject to the completion of FIFA’s 2024 bidding process.
The complete bid package will be published by FIFA in the coming months, and the final formality — approval of the host countries — will be made by the FIFA Congress on December 11, 2024.