FIFA officially announced Spain, Morocco, and Portugal as the hosts for the 2030 World Cup. The decision follows the FIFA Council’s virtual meeting on Tuesday, which reviewed the collective bids’ compliance with hosting requirements.
The 2030 tournament will mark the competition’s centenary anniversary with opening matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The majority and final matches will take place in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, running from June 13 to July 21.
Proposed venues for the final and opening match include Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, Barcelona’s Camp Nou, and Casablanca’s, still under construction, Hassan II Stadium. The event spans 17 cities, with nine in Spain, six in Morocco, and two in Portugal.
FIFA emphasized the integrity of the bidding process. Independent audits commended the evaluations for objectivity and transparency. Spain, Morocco, and Portugal scored an impressive 4.2 out of 5. Matches in Latin America for the 2030 centenary averaged 3.6 out of 5.
Spain’s Santiago Bernabéu, with a capacity of 78,297, will need slight modifications to meet FIFA’s opening and final match standards. Camp Nou, undergoing renovations, will increase its capacity to 103,447.
Meanwhile, the ambitious Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca aims to host 115,000 fans, making it the largest football stadium globally. Construction for this venue is scheduled for completion in 2028.